“I genuinely didn’t expect this,” So Yi-won said on Friday after Jo Joon-hyun’s older brother Jo Joon-ho interrupted their hiking date on Channel A’s variety show ‘Groom School 2’.
The broadcast detailed the couple’s morning hike up Mount Bulam, which was arranged by Jo Joon-hyun to recreate his athletic training grounds and impress his date. Instead of an intimate outing, the appearance of Jo Joon-ho turned the planned two-person confession into an unexpected trio.
- Jo Joon-hyun and So Yi-won started their hike at 8 a.m. on November 13, 2026.
- Jo Joon-hyun chose Mount Bulam because he trained there during his national team days.
- The appearance of older brother Jo Joon-ho disrupted the planned romantic confession at the summit.
Jo Joon-hyun met So Yi-won at 8 a.m. for their outdoor excursion, according to The Chosun Daily Daily report. He stated on the program, “After hearing that Yi-won had a lot of fun hiking, I thought hiking might help us get to know each other better, so I chose Mount Bulam, where I had trained.”
He aimed to showcase his past athletic background to create a strong impression. “I wanted to show her the me from my national team days, thinking she might find it impressive,” Jo Joon-hyun said, adding that he prepared a special event for the summit.
The romantic plan faltered when Jo Joon-ho arrived unexpectedly during the trek. The Chosun Daily reported that the studio audience erupted in boos at the sudden appearance of the older brother.
“Will this date always involve three people? I want to have a date just the two of us,” So Yi-won told the production crew. Panelist Song Ha-na remarked, “Why does this keep happening with three people?” while So Yi-won directly questioned the unexpected guest, asking Jo Joon-ho, “Why are you here?”
The Chosun Daily said that Jo Joon-hyun had described his summit confession preparations as involving “sweat, tears, and love.”
