Ahn Jae-wook Opens Up About His 9-Year Age Gap Marriage—and the Hilarious Advice He Got

Veteran actor Ahn Jae-wook is making headlines not just for his latest drama, but for candidly opening up about the highs and lows of his career—and a life-threatening moment that nearly ended it all.

■ A Shocking Health Scare in the U.S.

On the May 19 episode of KBS 2TV’s Let’s Live Together Season 3, Ahn revisited a terrifying incident from 2013, when he collapsed during a trip to the United States. Diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (a type of brain hemorrhage), he underwent emergency surgery overseas.

“I was resting on the first day of the trip when I suddenly collapsed, clutching the back of my neck like a scene from a drama,” Ahn recalled. “When I regained consciousness, I didn’t want to open my eyes. I just couldn’t believe what was happening.”

Even more shocking was the medical bill—nearly 500 million KRW (around $370,000 USD). “I nearly fainted again when I saw the bill,” he joked. It took two years, with the help of a medical lawyer, to negotiate the amount down to less than half.

■ Struggles Behind the Hallyu Fame

Ahn also opened up about the pressure of being a first-generation Hallyu star, revealing the challenges that came with fame during the early Korean Wave era. Known for his success in both acting and singing, Ahn said, “Looking at stars today, I feel a bit envious. Back then, I was so busy filming I didn’t even have time to feel famous—my popularity hit me through newspaper articles.”

He added that traveling abroad was difficult due to massive crowds of fans, and he always felt the weight of representing Korea. “I lived so upright and cautious, afraid that my actions might negatively affect other Korean entertainers. It wasn’t even fun sometimes,” he admitted.

Surprisingly, Ahn revealed that he had even performed without pay during cultural exchange events between countries. “Those stories never made the news, but I felt it was something I needed to do,” he said.

■ Wisdom on Marriage from a Fellow Star

The episode also featured lighter moments, including Ahn discussing married life with his wife, musical actress Choi Hyun-joo, who is nine years his junior. “Once you start living together, age really doesn’t matter,” he said. He shared some humorous marital advice he received from fellow celebrities Shin Dong-yup and Cha Tae-hyun: “Don’t argue with your wife. Don’t even try. Just accept that you’ve already lost.”

Co-star Yoon Da-hoon, who also has a younger wife, chimed in with agreement, saying, “She always felt more mature than me anyway.”

■ ‘For Eagle Brothers’ Hits No. 1 in Ratings

Meanwhile, Ahn Jae-wook is currently starring in the weekend drama ‘For Eagle Brothers’, which has quickly become a national favorite. The show recorded an impressive 18% nationwide viewership, claiming the top spot in its time slot.

In the latest episode, viewers saw Ma Gwang-sook (Uhm Ji-won) beginning to develop feelings for Han Dong-seok (Ahn Jae-wook), adding a layer of romantic tension to the family-centered narrative.

Set against the backdrop of a traditional Korean brewery, For Eagle Brothers explores intergenerational family drama with themes of legacy, identity, and love. The series airs every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM KST on KBS 2TV, and continues to gain momentum as a standout hit of the season.

From emotional scars to romantic roles, Ahn Jae-wook proves that even after decades in the spotlight, his story—and his star power—are far from over.

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