Kim Byung-man Opens Up About Divorce, Reveals 10 Years of Separation from 7-Year-Older Wife
On October 28, 2024, Kim Byung-man appeared on Channel A’s “Table for 4.”
Kim Byung-man married a woman in 2012 but went through a divorce lawsuit in 2020, and it was revealed last year that their marriage ended in divorce.
In the interview, Kim Byung-man confessed, “We lived separately for 10 years starting from 2012. The reason I didn’t reveal the separation was because of fear.”
“We Needed to Separate, But It Wasn’t Settled”
Kim Byung-man had avoided discussing his breakup or divorce in the past, “It felt uncomfortable to talk about my unhappiness openly.”
He added, “I was scared that the story would be exaggerated. I feared it would blow up. I was afraid it might destroy what I had built from nothing.”
He continued, “I often received requests to host wedding ceremonies. Every time I was asked, it was tough. I had to celebrate others’ happiness, but I wasn’t happy myself.”
He reflected on his separation, “I thought we should go our separate ways, but it wasn’t being cut off or settled. It felt like I was constantly burdened. I changed my phone number, then told her about it, and even went back home to take some of my things.”
Ex-Wife Refused Divorce, “Had to Rely on Legal Power”
Kim Byung-man announced his engagement in March 2012 to a woman seven years older than him, who already had a child from a previous marriage. Their marriage attracted attention for this reason.
Kim Byung-man said, “Love is fleeting, and I think the thing that connects two people is children. I desperately wanted to have a child.”
He added, “My ex-wife had a child, and I thought I provided enough support in raising our child. When the child became an adult, I wanted to go my own way and mentioned divorce, but my ex-wife took it like a child’s tantrum.”
Eventually, Kim Byung-man shared, “I had no choice but to rely on the law. I filed for divorce in 2019, and we divorced in 2020.”
Kim Byung-man’s Mother’s Tragic Death
Kim Byung-man’s mother tragically passed away in 2022 when she was swept away by the rising tide while harvesting clams in the tidal flats.
He shared, “She went to the tidal flats to collect clams for her nephews and nieces, and that’s when she passed away. What hurt was that my mother held on tightly to the clams she had collected in her hands, even until the end. It broke my heart,” speaking with difficulty.
He added, “I stayed by my mother’s memorial portrait for three days. I saved so many people in the jungle, but I couldn’t save my own mother. I felt so guilty,” and continued, “For more than a year after that, I couldn’t let go. I would even dream of her appearing soaked in water.”
Kim Byung-man’s Age and Profile
Born in 1975, Kim Byung-man is currently 49 years old. He made his debut in 1996 through theater and later entered the entertainment industry in 2022 as a comedian selected through KBS’s 17th recruitment.
Kim Byung-man is best known for his long-running role in KBS’s “Gag Concert” in the segment “Master,” as well as being the host of SBS’s “Kim Byung-man’s Law of the Jungle,” which aired from 2011 to 2020 and earned him much love.
He was considered a successful comedian in both sketch comedy and variety shows during his peak years, and in 2013, he won the prestigious Grand Prize at the SBS Entertainment Awards.
Netizens expressed their support, commenting, “You’ve been through so much,” “We’re rooting for you, Byung-man,” “I hope you find happiness in your next marriage and in life,” “A true entertainer who shows effort,” and “I wish you success in everything you do from now on.”
Source: daum
