Veteran actress Ko So-young offered an honest and humorous glimpse into her life during a recent YouTube appearance, explaining why she’s been absent from the entertainment scene, and why her husband, top star Jang Dong-gun, rarely goes out anymore.
In the April 12 episode of “Study King Genius Jinkyung,” hosted by entertainer Hong Jin-kyung, Ko So-young opened up about motherhood, career sacrifices, and the challenges of re-entering the spotlight. When asked about her return to acting, Ko candidly replied, “My career used to be everything. But after becoming a mom, that took over. Even when I wanted to work, the timing and environment just didn’t allow it.”
Ko, now in her 50s, admitted feeling distanced from the public: “I started YouTube to let people know I’m still here. But maybe I’ve been away too long… I don’t even know if I’m doing it right anymore.”
With her signature humor, she added, “My kids used to cling to me like glue, and now they’re the ones telling me to get a job. I told them, ‘I’m way too old for that now!’”
When Hong asked if her children were aware of their parents’ superstar status, Ko laughed: “I told them, ‘Your dad and I were everywhere in Cheongdam-dong back in the day.’ But all I got was, ‘Mom, stop!’”
She also shared a charming anecdote about her husband, “*Jang Dong-gun took our kids to a movie recently, Lee Byung-hun’s film. They were excited because of ‘Squid Game.’ Afterward, he told me, ‘I don’t go out much these days, so I thought I’d at least do this for them.’ I just looked at him and said, ‘What are you talking about, honey?’”*
Ko So-young and Jang Dong-gun, once Korea’s reigning celebrity couple, married in 2010 and share two children. Though she’s taken a step back from acting, Ko‘s latest interview proves her presence, and wit, are as sharp as ever.
