Kim Jong-kook Opens Up About 'Hurt' Friends Over Intimate Wedding Guest List

Singer Kim Jong-kook has shed light on the aftermath of his highly private wedding ceremony, which was attended by only 50 guests.

A video uploaded to his YouTube channel, 'GYM JONG KOOK', on the afternoon of the 25th, titled 'I'm Not a Movie Star Trainer... (Feat. Im Si-wan, Park Gyu-young, Jo Woo-jin)', featured Kim discussing the matter.

During a conversation with lawyer Park Min-chul, Kim revealed that some individuals felt disappointed after not being invited to his wedding. He shared, "There were occasions when people felt disappointed because I had a small wedding and didn't invite them as guests."

Kim further elaborated, "Some of my younger acquaintances even reached out, saying they wanted to send congratulatory money even though they couldn't attend the wedding because they weren't invited." To this, Kim responded, "Of course, I politely declined their offer (for congratulatory money)."

Kim Jong-kook tied the knot with his non-celebrity wife on the 5th at a hotel in Seoul. To respect the privacy of his bride and their families, the wedding was held as a private event, with only family members and close confidants in attendance. Despite a career spanning nearly 30 years, many entertainment industry colleagues reportedly did not receive an invitation.

This situation was previously highlighted on SBS's 'My Little Old Boy', where Super Junior's Kim Heechul expressed his disappointment at not being on the guest list. Kim Jong-kook explained, "It wasn't a large-scale wedding. There were only 100 seats in total, 50 from each side. I invited those I see and communicate with at least once a week."

Notable attendees at the ceremony included members from 'Running Man', the 'Dragon Class' club, Kang Hoon, Joo Woo-jae, and Seo Jang-hoon.

Kim Jong-kook debuted in 1995 as part of the hip-hop duo Turbo, quickly establishing himself as a leading artist in South Korea. His powerful vocals and distinctive tone have garnered him enduring popularity for decades. He is also a prominent figure in television, particularly known for his role in the 'national variety show' 'Running Man' alongside Yoo Jae-suk and Ji Suk-jin.