It turns out some celebrities are related by blood, including actors Kang Dong-won and Gong Yoo, as well as actress Choi Myung-gil and actor Kwon Yul.
Last year, it was revealed that Kang Dong-won and Gong Yoo are in-laws, which became a hot topic. In September of last year, Kang Dong-won talked about his family on tvN’s variety show “You Quiz on the Block,” and his special relationship with Gong Yoo became an issue.
Both from Busan, their grandfathers were close friends, and later became related by marriage. In response to a question about his rookie days with Gong Yoo, Kang once said, “Since we were both rookies without much to offer, we weren’t in a position to help each other.” He mentioned that although the supportive connection they had back then remains, both are now too busy and only manage to keep in touch occasionally.
Gong Yoo has another surprising celebrity family member, actress Gong Hyo-jin. They are from the same Gong family lineage, which is why there were never any dating rumors about them. It is known that Gong Yoo is the 79th generation, and Gong Hyo-jin is the 81st, making them grandfather and granddaughter in terms of family lineage.
Actor Lee Jang-woo and singer Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky are well-known relatives, with Lee Jang-woo being Hwanhee’s cousin. Lee dreamed of becoming a star in the sixth grade of elementary school, inspired by Hwanhee’s debut in the entertainment industry. Lee shared on a variety show, “Our family atmosphere became better because my brother became a star. I also wanted to be someone who could give strength to my family. I didn’t want to burden him because it would be like tarnishing my brother’s reputation.”
Actor Kwon Yul is the nephew of actress Choi Myung-gil. For eight years since his debut, Kwon has not publicly revealed that his aunt is Choi Myung-gil. Choi expressed her affection for her nephew on a broadcast, saying, “We talk a lot about the attitude of being an actor. Since he does well alone, we don’t talk much.”
Kwon Yul, known for his humor, joked at a drama press conference, “When I run into my aunt, she talks about manners. She tells me to be humble and sincere to everyone on set. She says it so often that I lock the door when my aunt comes.”
Other distant relatives include singer Yook Joong-wan and K-pop boy band BTOB’s Yook Sung-jae. Actors Park Won-sook and Park So-dam are sixth cousins. Park So-dam is the granddaughter of Park Won-sook’s cousin’s brother. Park So-dam once said of Park Won-sook, “She gave me a lot of courage even though I failed many auditions, so I was able to challenge myself.” Actors Park Sung-woong and Kim Eui-sung are sixth cousins. The two have performed together in more than three films.
This article was originally published on Feb. 12, 2024.
