Kim Jang-hoon and Kang Gyun-sung drop 'Honey' duet 20 years after original release

A YouTube joke that became a duet

Kim Jang-hoon and Kang Gyun-sung of Noel have re-released Honey as a duet, 20 years after the song's original release. They revealed the collaboration on the October 16 episode of MBN and Channel S's Jeon Hyun-moo Plan 4.

It started as a joke. Kang Gyun-sung posted a YouTube video doing a high-note battle and imitating his hyung. The clip got a lot of views. Kim Jang-hoon saw the opening. "It came out well as a joke, so instead of ending it with just laughter, what if we both sang Honey seriously," he said. "If we're going to raise that high song with harmony, it has to be you."

When Kim Jang-hoon heard the finished recording, he was struck. "(Gyun-sung) was always just being funny, but when he sang seriously, it was moving."

Host Jeon Hyun-moo didn't hold back. "The saltiness goes beyond salt, the tip of my tongue tastes bitter," he said. "It's much saltier than eating one spoonful of shrimp sauce at a sundae soup restaurant." He also dropped a hint about the show's upcoming "eating friends" segment—the first is "honey" and the second is "imitation," a nod to how the duet came together.

Kang Gyun-sung's wedding announcement

The same episode brought a second surprise: Kang Gyun-sung is marrying actress Yu Ha-jin, 14 years his junior, after eight months of dating. They first met in mid-February 2026, though their paths had crossed nine years before.

Nine years ago, the age gap gave him pause. "We dated 9 years ago, but there was a 14-year age difference, so I felt burdened back then. We just ate a few times and then broke up." Yu Ha-jin had trained as an idol before moving into acting.

A mutual acquaintance tried to set them up without realizing they already knew each other. Once they figured it out, Kang suggested grabbing a meal. "She had matured a lot in the meantime, and our conversation went well," he said.

The proposal came a few weeks before the broadcast. Kang told Yu Ha-jin they had a sponsored photo shoot lined up so she'd get full makeup done. He read her a letter, got down on one knee, and gave her a ring. They borrowed a mini dress and a tuxedo, took photos, and Kang said it felt like a small wedding.