Song Jin-woo, a 30 million won card collecting hobby and eccentric...

A Connection Started from the Musical 'Nanta' and the Language Barrier

Actor Song Jin-woo and his Japanese wife, Minami, revealed their daily life in their 12th year of marriage. In the SBS program 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 - You Are My Destiny' aired on July 14, 2026, episodes ranging from their first meeting to the present were shared.

The connection between the two began at a performance of the musical 'Nanta' held in Japan. Minami recalled that even though there were many attractive actors in the performance team at the time, her eyes were drawn to Song Jin-woo. She shared her first impression, saying, "I felt like I wanted to know this person more."

Language communication was a major obstacle. Song Jin-woo used all the Japanese he knew and even mixed in body language to continue the conversation. After these efforts, the two settled in Korea and tied the knot just three months after starting their international romance.

Minami's quirky charm was also evident in her way of resolving conflicts. Instead of physical altercations with her husband, Minami chose her own unique method. Saying, "It's not good to fight physically with my husband," she revealed an anecdote where, during past conflicts, she performed quirky actions such as cutting the bottom of her briefs to make them bottomless.

Episodes from their dating days followed. Song Jin-woo recalled a time when they rode a crowded bus together. He reenacted a situation where, while eating chocolate on the bus, Minami asked for some, and when Song Jin-woo told her to say, "Please give it to me~," Minami slapped him, drawing everyone's attention.

Tens of Millions of Won in Card Assets and the Mother-in-Law's Cold Score

The couple's unique hobby of collecting cards also drew attention. Minami suggested selling the cards they had collected to raise funds for moving. However, Song Jin-woo strongly opposed this, saying, "It's not time to sell them yet."

Upon checking through a professional dealer, it was revealed that some cards exceeded 10 million won each, and rare cards were valued at around 30 million won. Song Jin-woo made it clear that he had no intention of selling them, stating these cards are "assets for the family." To this, Minami retorted, "Stop talking about the family."

When Minami's parents visited the house, Song Jin-woo prepared a game with pocket money at stake for his parents-in-law. Regardless of the game results, he gave them all the remaining pocket money and even served them a home-cooked meal. However, there was a twist in the son-in-law evaluation. While the father-in-law gave Song Jin-woo 99 points, the mother-in-law gave him 70 points.

The mother-in-law shared her honest feelings, saying, "I know you are trying, but I hope your sense of responsibility toward the family grows even more now." While surprised by the lower-than-expected score, Song Jin-woo replied, "I will work harder with the mindset of increasing my score by 1 point every day."

Minami Moved to Tears by Her Mother-in-Law's Encouragement

The mother-in-law sent warm encouragement to Minami, who has adapted quickly to life in Korea, saying, "There is no one like Minami. You must do well." Minami was moved to tears by her mother-in-law's words.

Minami expressed her emotion, saying, "It feels like something from the last 10 years has been unraveled. I lived my life diligently, but I always lacked confidence. But with my mother-in-law's one word, I feel like my heart has opened up."