[TV Report – Eunji Cho] Former soccer player Kang Ji-yong has passed away, bringing renewed attention to his familial connection with singer Kwon Eun-bi, who is his cousin.
On the 22nd, Kang Ji-yong became a star in the sky at the age of 36. On the 23rd, soccer player Goo Bon-sung, who was known to be very close to him, announced Kang Ji-yong’s death. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.
The wake is being held at Suncheonhyang University Hospital Funeral Home in Cheonan. The funeral will take place on the 25th, and the burial site is Cheonan Memorial Park. His wife and daughter are listed among the chief mourners.
Born in 1989, Kang Ji-yong was drafted by the ‘Pohang Steelers’ in 2009, marking his debut in the professional league. He spent three years with Pohang before transferring to ‘Busan I’Park’ in 2012.
After moving through various teams including citizen soccer clubs, Kang Ji-yong retired from his soccer career in 2022. In February, he shared updates on his life post-retirement on JTBC’s ‘Divorce Mediation Camp’.
His appearance in public after a long time drew attention to his past actions, including his relationship with singer Kwon Eun-bi. In 2018, Kang Ji-yong posted on social media encouraging votes for Kwon Eun-bi when she participated in Mnet’s survival program ‘Produce 48’.
Kwon Eun-bi also mentioned on SBS PowerFM that her cousin played for teams like Pohang, Gangwon, and Bucheon in the K League. The public connected her statements to reveal that the soccer player in question was Kang Ji-yong.
Kang Ji-yong appeared as part of the 9th season couple on ‘Divorce Mediation Camp’. At the time, Kang Ji-yong and his wife faced marital troubles due to financial issues. He shared in the program that he had given all his earnings from his soccer career to his parents and had to work in a factory because he never got the money back.
Because of financial constraints, Kang Ji-yong and his wife lived together unmarried, having registered their marriage without a wedding ceremony. Throughout their marriage, Kang Ji-yong repeatedly attempted extreme actions, deeply affecting his wife emotionally.
Although experts on the show suggested solutions that led to a reconciliation, the sudden news of Kang Ji-yong’s death was relayed. JTBC is currently discussing the segment featuring Kang Ji-yong and his wife internally.
Reporter Eunji Cho jej2@tvreport.co.kr / Photo = JTBC ‘Divorce Mediation Camp’, TV Report DB