Kwon-ho Shim Hints at Romance with 'Red Ginseng Lady' Amidst Personal Revelations

Kwon-ho Shim, 53, known for being single all his life, has revealed a budding romance with a woman he has been in contact with.

On the October 13th episode of TV Chosun's variety show 'Joseon's Love', Choi Hong-man, who has been eagerly anticipating meeting Shim due to their shared experiences, declared, "I haven't retired yet," showcasing his resilience. He added, "The wounds people give are healed by people," revealing his matured inner self.

The episode highlighted the camaraderie between 'Ssireum Legend' Choi Hong-man and 'Wrestling Legend' Kwon-ho Shim, showcasing their senior-junior relationship in the sports world. Shim, who was playfully bickering with his close friend Yoon Jung-soo, demonstrated his wrestling skills by applying a 'choke' technique on both Yoon and Choi.

Experiencing the choke for the first time, Choi confessed, "It was more peculiar than painful." When Choi applied the choke on Shim, studio host Choi Sung-kook humorously remarked, "It feels like a high schooler bullying a kindergartener." Choi, adept at conversing with women, was visibly shocked by Shim's status as a lifelong bachelor, to which Shim humorously retorted, "Do you think I want to be like this?"

On their way to the Jeju sea, which Shim longed to see, Choi reminisced about his mother, who passed away from cancer in 2017. While healing by the sea, Shim reflected on his past struggles, saying, "It was tough back then. It's still tough, but there's no one to guide you... you have to handle it alone," and regretted not seeking treatment sooner when his liver cancer was discovered.

Yoon Jung-soo comforted his friend, saying, "The path to a medal is a thousand times harder than treatment. But knowing that difficult path and not knowing the path of treatment is surprising." Shim recalled, "After treatment, I realized there were many people who cared for and helped me."

Shim expressed his future aspirations, "My goal is to train a student from scratch to win a medal. I want to pass on everything I know and watch them succeed." Yoon humorously added, "I also aim to bring Hong-man to the 'top of the music world,'" referencing Choi's past debut as a singer, sparking laughter.

The episode also captured the budding romance between Shim and the 'Red Ginseng Lady,' raising hopes for Shim's escape from lifelong bachelorhood. The news of a female fan who visited Shim with red ginseng during his cancer battle piqued the curiosity of the show's hosts. Amidst his friends' enthusiastic reactions, Shim texted the fan, "I'm in Jeju, I'll send you some omegitteok. Can I have your address?"

However, as the conversation between Shim and the 'Red Ginseng Lady' seemed indifferent, Yoon and Choi began offering dating advice. Upon seeing the fan's reply, Choi Sung-kook astutely noted, "You two have spoken a few times," highlighting the straightforward nature of their exchanges. Despite concerns, Shim and the 'Red Ginseng Lady' exchanged warm messages, prompting cheers from Choi.

By Taeyuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr