Former professional footballer Kang Ji-yong has tragically passed away at the age of 36. The news broke on April 23, when fellow athlete Koo Bon-sang, known to be close to Kang Ji-yong, shared the obituary via social media. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The funeral is being held at the Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Cheonan, with the burial scheduled for April 25 at the Cheonan Memorial Park. Survived by his wife and daughter, Kang Ji-yong’s death has sent shockwaves through both the sports and entertainment communities.
Born in 1989, Kang Ji-yong was drafted into the K League by Pohang Steelers in 2009 and later played for teams like Busan I’Park, Gangwon FC, Bucheon FC, and several citizen football clubs before retiring in 2022. He most recently appeared in February 2025 on JTBC’s reality show Divorce Camp, where he opened up about his life post-retirement.
During the show, Kang Ji-yong revealed he had handed over his entire earnings from his football career to his parents and was unable to recover the money. Struggling financially, he was working in a factory and had not had a formal wedding ceremony with his wife. The couple had registered their marriage and were raising a daughter. Kang Ji-yong also disclosed his past attempts at taking his own life due to mounting personal struggles.
What has drawn renewed attention in light of his death is Kang Ji-yong’s familial link to Kwon Eun-bi, a popular solo artist and former member of IZ*ONE. Fans recall that in 2018, Kang Ji-yong publicly supported Kwon Eun-bi when she was competing on Produce 48, encouraging others to vote for her. Kwon Eun-bi had also mentioned in a radio appearance that her cousin played for K League teams, which fans later connected to Kang Ji-yong.
The couple featured on Divorce Camp as part of its 9th season. Though they seemed to reconcile on the show with the help of counseling experts, the recent news has prompted JTBC to re-evaluate the broadcast and related content.
As fans and netizens mourn the sudden loss, many are also revisiting the systemic and personal challenges that led to this moment. The outpouring of condolences reflects not just on Kang Ji-yong’s career, but also on the unresolved difficulties he faced after leaving the sport.
