Lee Deok-hwa Declares Retirement from Officiating Weddings After Kim Il-woo's Ceremony on 'Groom Class'

In a recent episode of Channel A's 'Groom Class' (신랑수업), actor Kim Il-woo ignited his passion for marriage with the encouragement of his close senior, Lee Deok-hwa. The 140th episode, aired on November 20, showcased Kim Il-woo preparing a special gift of homemade bread for Lee Deok-hwa while sharing his thoughts on marriage.

Kim Il-woo arrived at a bakery cafe early in the morning, showcasing his casual yet stylish ' 꾸안꾸' fashion. After enjoying a cup of coffee, he effortlessly lifted a 20kg bag of flour and began his bread-making process. Currently taking baking classes, Kim Il-woo expressed his dedication, stating, "I need to pour my heart into this bread since it's a gift for someone I love," which delighted the studio mentors.

After crafting heart-shaped bread and sandwiches, Kim Il-woo rushed to the seaside to present his creations to Lee Deok-hwa, who is known as the 'fishing enthusiast' of the entertainment industry. Although Lee Deok-hwa intended to teach Kim Il-woo how to fish, they opted to cook spicy rockfish soup with pre-prepared ingredients due to unfavorable weather.

While setting up a table by the beach, Kim Il-woo inquired, "Fishing is a great hobby, but don’t women dislike it?" Lee Deok-hwa humorously replied, "It used to be the number one reason for divorce. Before I got married, I took my wife to a fortune teller who said, 'If you don’t stop fishing, it will be a big problem.' I had coordinated that with the fortune teller beforehand!" This anecdote brought laughter to the scene.

As they enjoyed the view of a rainbow over the sea, Lee Deok-hwa playfully predicted, "Il-woo will get married by the end of this year!" After tasting the sandwiches, he gave a thumbs up, and the studio mentors also praised Kim Il-woo's baking skills, with Lee Seung-chul, the 'principal' of the mentor group, exclaiming, "This will definitely help you get married!"

Impressed by Kim Il-woo's cooking, Lee Deok-hwa remarked, "You must be popular with women since you cook well," adding, "There’s no reason for women to dislike you. You’re handsome, fit, a good actor, and earn well. What’s missing? It seems like you’re the one who doesn’t like women!" He further urged, "You can’t wait any longer! Let’s resolve this by the end of the year!" When Kim Il-woo expressed doubt about making a decision after 60 years of hesitation, Lee Deok-hwa countered, "Making a decision takes just a few seconds!"

Reflecting on his own life, Lee Deok-hwa shared his gratitude and remorse for his wife, who stood by him during a life-threatening car accident in his mid-20s. He emphasized the importance of marriage, stating, "If I could turn back time, I would still choose to marry my wife." He then declared, "After officiating 300 weddings, I plan to retire from officiating after yours!" In a heartfelt moment, he concluded with his catchphrase, "Our Il-woo, I’m counting on you! Oh, I’m so excited!" as he fervently supported Kim Il-woo's journey toward marriage.

The next episode of Channel A's 'Groom Class' (신랑수업) is set to air on November 27 at 9:30 PM.