Kim Young-kwang Opens Up About Insecurities After Retirement from Soccer

On July 5, during the broadcast of MBN's 속풀이쇼 동치미 (Talk Show Dongchimi), former soccer player Kim Young-kwang candidly shared his feelings of insecurity following his retirement from the sport. The episode focused on the theme 'Having a Talented Husband Turns Out to Be Useless.'

Kim stated, "Isn't it cooler for me to be the one struggling rather than my wife? But after trying my hand at being a shutterman, I found it’s not so bad."

His wife made a surprise appearance in the studio to clarify some misconceptions. She explained, "I don’t usually disregard him. He mimics my expressions in a strange way. When I playfully tease him, it’s not out of anger or annoyance, but rather in a light-hearted manner when I’m in a good mood."

Kim elaborated, saying, "When my wife comes home from work, she often heads straight to the bedroom without noticing the chores I’ve done. I tend to seek her attention. If I’m gaming or have done something wrong, I feel guilty when she playfully calls me out." He also admitted, "Since retiring, I’ve developed feelings of inferiority. I used to earn quite a bit, but now I feel like I’m struggling to make money, which might sound a bit whiny."

Fellow guest Lee Hyun praised Kim for being a caring father, mentioning how he rides bikes with their two daughters and shares family meals. However, Kim's wife humorously countered, "It’s exaggerated by at least ten times. I’d prefer if he didn’t do anything and just didn’t make a fuss about it."

She further revealed, "I had to raise our children and study on my own while he moved to Seoul for his transfer. I often cried in the shower, waiting for the kids to sleep. He would come home every two weeks like a guest. I didn’t even have time to voice my complaints because soccer was his entire focus until retirement. Now he helps a little and makes a big deal out of it."

Kim's wife concluded, "If you add up what he does, it’s only about 20 to 30 minutes a day," to which Kim insisted that she was unaware of the reality of his contributions.