T-ARA Jiyeon’s Husband Earns Praise For His Past Interview About Married Life Expectations

Following T-ARA Jiyeon and baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun‘s star-studded wedding on December 10, an old interview from the husband has now resurfaced, leaving K-Pop fans with nothing but praise!

Back in February, Hwang was featured in the magazine YOURVIBES. While the interview had taken place before Jiyeon and he announced their wedding date, Hwang answered some questions about his married life expectations.

In the interview, Hwang was asked about “naejo (내조),” or the unconditional support from his future wife. This practice, deriving from Korea’s patriarchal traditions of forcing the wives to sacrifice their careers and social lives to look after and care for their husbands, has long been considered a must for professional male athletes as part of the around-the-clock management for ultimate performance.

Hwang, however, revealed that he isn’t interested in receiving such support.

I don’t need naejo. I don’t need someone to make food for me or care for my health. I can work on my own body. I can do everything that I need for myself.

— Hwang Jae Gyun

Pointing out that a marriage isn’t about sacrifice, Hwang said he looks forward to having his future wife live a fulfilling life of her own.

People don’t get married just so they can receive naejo, right? I want my wife to build her career, live her life, and be completely content in co-existing with me.

— Hwang Jae Gyun

Fans—especially those of Hwang’s now-wife T-ARA’s Jiyeon—are praising the athlete for “having the right mindset” about married life. Trusting Hwang to keep his words, Jiyeon fans anticipate the idol to continue performing, acting, and pursuing her entertainment career well into the marriage!

• “What a great mindset. I hope the two of them live happily ever after, building their respective careers and all! And… If they happen to have a boy, I hope they raise him to become a player for my team!”
• “People only have good things to say about Hwang Jae Gyun. No wonder. I’ve seen him respond like a gentleman to the trolls who raid his Instagram after lost games.”
• “Wow. A rare man with such grace.”
• “Baseball fans know Hwang Jae Gyun takes excellent care of himself. I don’t root for his team, but he has always been my ideal type of man.”
• “It makes sense why the two of them got married… His expectations about married life couldn’t be any more perfect.”
• “He’s impressive. I wish them the best!”
• “Wow, he’s so cool.”
• “That’s the right mindset to have about marriage. Congratulations!”
• “And it does turn out, people who know how to survive on their own end up with solid relationships and content marriages. I wish them the happiest ever after.”
• “This man is kind of awesome.”
• “I’ve been a fan of Hwang Jae Gyun since his Heroes team days. Not only is he talented at baseball, he is also good to his fans. He doesn’t ever get involved in scandals. I know he’s going to do well in his marriage, as he does in all parts of life.”