Kang Gyun-sung says he's keeping premarital chastity pledge with bride-to-be, despite past lapse

Kang Gyun-sung, 45, a member of the group Noel and a self-described believer in premarital chastity, said that while he once broke his pledge, he is keeping it with his bride-to-be, actor Yoo Ha-jin.

Kang appeared on MBC's entertainment program "Radio Star," set to air Wednesday.

He is scheduled to marry Yoo, who is 14 years his junior, on Oct. 30, and shared the story of their relationship on the show.

The two first crossed paths nine years ago, getting to know each other over several meals. However, Kang said the 14-year age gap weighed on him, and he eventually stopped reaching out, with the two drifting apart and keeping only loose tabs on each other through social media.

Nine years later, a mutual acquaintance set him up with someone — and that person turned out to be Yoo. The two grew closer and began dating in mid-February this year.

Kang, a devout Christian, is well known for his belief in premarital chastity. He made a formal pledge in 2011 and has spoken about it on multiple broadcasts since. Earlier this year, however, he confessed on SBS's My Little Old Boy that he had broken the pledge not long after making it, saying a girlfriend at the time had been upset and that he had failed to keep his vow as a result.

His commitment to the principle, however, appears unchanged. On Radio Star, Kang candidly acknowledged that there had been a time when he failed to keep his pledge, but said that after meeting the woman he intends to marry, he felt a strong desire to honor it this time. He added that his bride-to-be shares the same conviction, which has made it possible.

With the Oct. 30 wedding set to free him from his pledge, Kang said he has been making careful plans for a memorable honeymoon. He scheduled the ceremony for the unusually late hour of 7 p.m., explaining that he did not want to wear himself out by starting preparations too early on the wedding day.

The episode of Radio Star featuring Kang airs Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.