The representative couple of the comedy world, Kim Joon-ho (48) and Kim Ji-min (40), became husband and wife on the 13th after three years of publicly dating. However, amidst everyone's congratulations, the absence of two notable people was noticeable. They were none other than 'the queen of congratulatory songs,' Jo Hye-ryun, and her 'close friend,' Park Na-rae.
The wedding ceremony was held privately that afternoon at the Grand InterContinental Parnas Hotel in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. About 1,200 guests from the broadcasting and entertainment industries attended, showcasing an extravagant scale.
The emcee for the day was broadcaster Lee Sang-min, and the congratulatory songs were performed by vocalists Gummy and Byun Jin-seop, blessing the couple's future. The serious expression of Kim Joon-ho and the bright smile of Kim Ji-min in the wedding photos received praise as 'the ideal couple in reality.'
However, there was a noticeably absent name from the event. It was the official 'congratulatory song specialist' of the comedy world, Jo Hye-ryun. Kim Joon-ho had previously expressed his affection on SBS's 'My Little Old Boy,' saying, 'Gummy and Seven have agreed to perform the congratulatory songs. But the finale always belongs to Jo Hye-ryun.' In fact, Jo Hye-ryun has consistently made her presence felt at weddings, lifting the atmosphere with her congratulatory songs for couples like Son Heon-soo, Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye, and Uhm Ki-joon.
However, Jo Hye-ryun was not seen at the wedding of Kim Joon-ho and Kim Ji-min. In response, Jo Hye-ryun stated, 'I was surprised to see my name mentioned in the wedding article,' adding, 'I was unable to attend due to my overseas performance schedule.' Nonetheless, she mentioned that she had previously attended the wedding of a cat YouTuber to celebrate, hinting at her continued active participation in congratulatory song activities and eliciting laughter.
Another noticeable absence was Park Na-rae, a close friend of Kim Ji-min and a cohort from KBS's 21st public recruitment. There were rumors that Park Na-rae had caught the bouquet, but the one who actually received the bouquet was comedian Han Yun-seo, who is in the same agency.
Park Na-rae was reported to have been unable to attend the wedding due to personal reasons. Earlier, Kim Ji-min also hinted at the possibility of Park Na-rae's absence on MBC FM4U's 'Two O'Clock Date with Ahn Young-mi,' stating, 'The person who was supposed to throw the bouquet was Park Na-rae, but she has been very busy lately.'
Although she was absent from both the wedding and wedding photos, Park Na-rae reportedly communicated with Kim Ji-min and Kim Joon-ho before the wedding and compensated them with a generous monetary gift. The agency sided with the reason for Park Na-rae's absence, stating, 'Due to personal circumstances, it is difficult to confirm specifics.'
Meanwhile, Kim Joon-ho and Kim Ji-min tied the knot after officially acknowledging their relationship in April 2022, following three years of public dating. Prominent figures from the broadcasting industry, including Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Su-geun, Lee Young-ja, Jang Young-ran, Shin Bong-seon, Ahn Young-mi, the couple Kim Ji-hye and Park Jun-hyung, Song Eun-i, Kim Joon-hyun, Oh Ji-heon, and Kang Jae-jun and Lee Eun-hyung, attended the wedding to bless the couple's future.
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