Former BTL Idol Oh Ji-min Shares His Early Marriage Story

Oh Ji-min, a former member of the idol group BTL, recently opened up about his early marriage during an appearance on MBN's 'Special Report World' on January 9. Ji-min debuted in 2014 as part of the nine-member boy group BTL, but after two years, the group disbanded, leading him to pursue a career as a paint technician. He shared, "I was studying theater and film when I got the chance to join BTL. I thought that becoming an idol would help me transition into acting more quickly. I debuted in May 2014 and was active for about two years."

Reflecting on his time as an idol, Ji-min admitted, "I should have taken it more seriously, but I often felt lost. I thought it would work out, but the uncertainty of my future was daunting. I realized I needed to complete my military service to focus on my acting career, so I decided to enlist right away."

However, Ji-min revealed that he got married five years ago and is now raising two sons. He recounted, "While I was in the military, I met my wife for the first time during a birthday celebration with friends. I thought she was beautiful, and that was the beginning. I initially saw her as just another pretty girl, but when I ran into her again at a bar, I felt it was fate and decided to pursue her."

His wife recalled their first meeting, saying, "He asked me what I thought he would do for a living. I thought he looked like a bad guy who would take advantage of women, but then I found out he was an entertainer, which I found amusing at the time."

The couple began their relationship through letters after meeting at first sight, but just five months later, Ji-min received news that his girlfriend was pregnant, two months before his military discharge. Ji-min expressed his initial fears, stating, "I thought my dreams were over. I felt conflicted, changing my mind dozens of times a day. I knew I had to take responsibility for the new life, but I also worried about how I could raise a child with nothing to my name."

He explained, "I didn't say anything extreme like 'let's get rid of it,' but I suggested we should wait until we could take responsibility. Ultimately, she reassured me, saying, 'I won't hold you back. I will raise the child, and you can continue on your path.' Hearing that made me realize I needed to step up."

At just 25 and 21 years old, they became parents. Ji-min's wife shared, "He took care of diaper changes, late-night feedings, and putting the baby to sleep. I let him handle most of the first child's care because I wanted him to bond with our child. I thought if I didn't keep my head straight, everything would fall apart. I had to manage my mental health, his, and the baby’s. I realized that if I struggled, we wouldn't be able to survive together, so I tried to support him as best as I could."