Actor Ha Jung-woo directly revealed his relationship with Cha Jeong-won.
Coupang Play variety show 'Kang Ho-dong's neighborhood bookstore' welcomed Ha Jung-woo as its first guest on the 6th, announcing the glamorous return of 'MC Kang Ho-dong' that the entire nation had been waiting for. Returning to a solo talk show after 13 years, Kang Ho-dong drew out Ha Jung-woo's candid life stories with his characteristically energetic questions and delicate empathy, generating heated attention.
'Kang Ho-dong's neighborhood bookstore' is a talk show in which the bookstore owner 'Hokrates' (Kang Ho-dong), who has a loud voice but a tender heart and is an INFP, unfolds the lives of visitors to the bookstore and shares honest conversations.
Ha Jung-woo, who opened the door for 'Kang Ho-dong's neighborhood bookstore,' introduced a life book titled 'A letter to a young poet' and began talking about various choices and dreams he had never revealed before. With diverse identities as an actor, director, painter and writer, he raised the atmosphere at once by addressing people's realistic hardships and bittersweet episodes in his characteristically humorous manner.
In particular, he drew attention by revealing an honest position about the recent dating rumors that had been a hot topic and that had not been heard anywhere else. When asked "Are you happy?" he answered "I am happy," and explained that the reason he decided to speak out was that "dating is not strange, it's just embarrassing."
The candid confession did not stop there. Citing "some bad investments" as the choice he regrets most in life and showing a relatable tone, Ha Jung-woo also offered an honest admission about his growth as a director, saying, "You cannot be satisfied at first, and to become a good director you must clearly go through time." He then recalled an episode of holding an exhibition in New York as a painter and elicited a bittersweet laugh by sharing the anecdote that only one painting was sold.
After hearing all of Ha Jung-woo's stories of living a multifaceted life as an actor, director, writer and painter, 'Hokrates' struggled to price his life book. Ha Jung-woo, saying "I counted the special supplement today, so that must be priced too," brought up the aforementioned dating rumor episode again and burst into cheerful laughter until the end. In the end, 'Hokrates' presented Ha Jung-woo, who quietly walked his own path through numerous roles, with Don Quixote as the book price symbolizing life's adventures and challenges, offering heartfelt encouragement: "Remember that your value lies in dreaming, and always walk your life path step by step."
Meanwhile, 'Hokrates,' who led honest feelings out by asking questions that pierced the core of the vast life story from the very first guest, is also receiving enthusiastic responses. "Hodong uncle is so cute… the tension is so good" (Naver Talk_yeol*), "As expected, Kang Ho-dong is Kang Ho-dong. Such a cute host" (Naver Talk_support*******), "A program that makes me want to read books again after a long time haha Hodoiham welcome back" (Coupang Play_R**), "Glad to see Kang Ho-dong's talk show. The costume is cute and the stories are fun" (Coupang Play_Myeon*), "A Kang Ho-dong-style talk show as charming as I waited for" (Coupang Play_So*) and other praise announce the successful birth of a new persona as a bookstore owner who has a loud voice but a delicate inner self, raising expectations for deeper and more varied life stories to come.
Kang Ho-dong's neighborhood's cutest bookstore owner 'Hokrates' and the sincere answers of superstar guests will come together in 'Kang Ho-dong's neighborhood bookstore,' which will be released exclusively on Coupang Play every Friday at 4 p.m.
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