'Giving birth alone' Kim Jin-kyung cheers for husband Kim Seung-kyu: "Last World Cup... waiting for a new life"

*This content was translated by AI.

Model Kim Jin-kyung cheered for her husband, Kim Seung-kyu, a goalkeeper for the South Korean national team, who is competing in the FIFA North America World Cup on KBS.

KBS 2TV held a pre-show starting at 8 a.m. ahead of the kickoff of the second group stage match of the North America World Cup, Group A, between South Korea and Mexico, on the 19th.

The broadcast connected with commentators Lee Young-pyo and Nam Hyun-jong at the Mexico venue, while also showing footage of the national team players heading to the stadium and soccer fans cheering on the streets early in the morning at Seoul Gwanghwamun Square, heating up the atmosphere.

Notably, in a pre-recorded video segment, Gangwon FC head coach Jeong Kyung-ho, Jens Castro's mother, and Kim Seung-kyu's wife, Kim Jin-kyung, appeared, delivering moving messages.

Head coach Jeong Kyung-ho said, "If you get tired, you lose; if you go crazy, you win. I want to cheer with that mindset," while Jens's mother said, "Ever since my son Jens was young, he told me, 'Let's go to the South Korean national team.' I'm so happy that he's now going to the World Cup," and shouted, "Go South Korea!"

Kim Jin-kyung said, "(My husband Kim Seung-kyu) suffered a major injury and even considered retirement, so this could be his last World Cup. A cute new life is waiting for him," as she cheered for Kim Seung-kyu. Kim Jin-kyung married Kim Seung-kyu in June 2024 and announced earlier this month that she had given birth to a daughter. It is reported that she gave birth alone while Kim Seung-kyu had departed for Mexico to prepare for the World Cup.

On today's broadcast, singers Kim Jong-kook and Oh Ha-young each mentioned national team ace Lee Kang-in and goalkeeper Kim Seung-kyu as "fate." Kim Jong-kook, who was a director for the first season of KBS' "Fly, Shoot Boy" (hereinafter "Shoot Boy"), joked about Lee Kang-in, saying, "I was a director for the first season of 'Shoot Boy,' and I regret not being able to direct the third season," which drew laughter.

He added, "Player Lee Kang-in has made many standout plays since the third season of 'Shoot Boy.' Watching him, I felt so reassured and proud." Kim Jong-kook, who revealed that he loves Los Angeles very much, said, "I hope he can play a match in LA someday," and wished for the South Korean national team to advance to the Round of 32.

Oh Ha-young also said, "I've been close with Kim Jin-kyung, the wife of national team goalkeeper Kim Seung-kyu. She gave birth to a daughter during the World Cup preparation period. As the head of a household and the goalkeeper of the Taegeuk Warriors, she has done both roles wonderfully, and watching her made me feel so reassured," as she sent her support to Kim Seung-kyu.

Oh Ha-young, who watched the first match in Mexico, also shared the atmosphere on-site, saying, "I felt a strong bond between Mexico and us on-site, but I don't think they'll go easy on us."

Meanwhile, MC Jang Ye-won remarked, "While South Korea has appeared in the World Cup finals 11 times, we have never won the second match," expressing surprise at the second-match jinx.

In response, Oh Ha-young said, "Jinxes are meant to be broken," and Kim Jong-kook added, "I didn't know this either, but it's said that South Korea has lost all its second matches played in the same stadium. I hope that jinx is broken too," as he cheered enthusiastically.

Commentator Lee Young-pyo on-site also shared his hope, saying, "Various records are being rewritten again and again; this is a great opportunity to break many records that couldn't be broken before."

When the on-site squad was revealed, coach Seol Ki-hyeon said, "National team players are not actors, so managing their expressions isn't easy," and added, "They seem nervous, but they look much brighter than during the first match," expressing relief.

Commentator Jo Won-hee also said, "They seem to have more confidence and composure after winning the first match," and Kim Jong-kook added, "It might also be because Czech Republic and South Africa in the same group drew their match."

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*This content was translated by AI.