Kim Min-jae Reveals Wrestling Idols: Respects Lee Man-gi, Aims to Emulate Kang Ho-dong

Wrestler Kim Min-jae has revealed who he looks up to in the sport.

Appearing on the JTBC entertainment show ‘Knowing Bros’ (Ask Us Anything) on the 13th, Kim Min-jae, along with the winners of Netflix's ‘Physical: 100’, including Yun Sung-bin, Amooti, Jang Eun-sil, and Choi Seung-yeon, showcased their lively wit.

During the broadcast, Kim Min-jae was asked about the wrestling senior he respects the most. He responded, “If we're talking strictly about wrestling careers, it’s senior Lee Man-gi.” However, the ‘Knowing Bros’ cast members pressed him, urging him to name his true favorite. Lee Soo-geun teased, “Your expression changed when we called you ‘Little Kang Ho-dong’ earlier,” attempting to draw out a more personal answer.

Ultimately, Kim Min-jae confessed, “The person I want to emulate is senior Kang Ho-dong.” He explained his reasoning, stating, “Senior Kang Ho-dong’s raw, unpolished style was incredibly cool, and I believe that kind of presence made wrestling more exciting. It’s a shame we don’t have such athletes in wrestling now.”

Notably, Kim Min-jae brought up the famous “Kang Ho-dong nosebleed incident,” remarking, “We don’t have that kind of player in wrestling today. It’s more fun when such characters exist.” Lee Soo-geun added with a jest, “You’re already looking a lot like him in terms of appearance,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

Netizens watching the show commented, 'Kim Min-jae is so honest,' 'You can feel his desire to become like Kang Ho-dong,' and 'Both Lee Man-gi and Kang Ho-dong are legends.'