Actor Jang Keun Suk is winning over viewers with a combination of humor and sincerity after a memorable exchange with actress Kyung Soo Jin on the finale of tvN's variety show "Gu-gi-dong Friends" went viral online.
According to Koreaboo, the buzz began after Jang responded to a playful marriage proposal from his longtime friend and fellow cast member, delivering what many fans described as the ultimate friend-zone answer.
During the show's emotional final episode, cast members gathered for one last meal before moving out of their shared home and exchanged handwritten letters reflecting on the friendships they had built throughout the series. In his letter to Kyung Soo Jin, Jang jokingly referenced a proposal she had made earlier in the season.
"We may not be able to get married, but whenever you need a drinking buddy, I'll come running," he wrote, drawing laughter from the cast and viewers alike.
The remark was a callback to a previous episode in which Jang helped Kyung fulfill a bucket-list wish by taking her for a ride in a luxury sports car. Following the outing, the actress jokingly asked, "Can we get married now?" The unexpected question quickly became one of the season's most talked-about moments.
Jang's reply seemed to close off any chance of romance, but fans commended the actor for handling the incident with warmth and humor, and confirming their close friendship. Kyung later played along with the joke, asking him to continue taking good care of her.
The viral exchange was only one highlight from the finale. According to a report published by The Chosun Daily, Jang played a central role in creating many of the episode's memorable moments. The actor organized farewell activities for the cast, including a "Forty Athletics Competition," and helped orchestrate events designed to strengthen bonds among the housemates before their departure.
The report noted that Jang actively brainstormed ideas throughout filming and even suggested inviting the cast members' closest friends to join the experience. This enthusiasm made him earn the name "event maestro" because of his skills in creating fun and memorable moments for the show.
But Jang had a much deeper side, other than making everyone laugh. When move-out day was approaching, he became worried because he feared going back to his empty house since he had grown fond of the rest of the cast.
When remembering everything that happened, he did not regard this show as just one memory but rather a film of dozens of cuts, thanking his friends for helping him open his heart.
