Gong Hyo Jin has opened up about how her outlook on happiness changed after marrying Kevin Oh, explaining that having a larger family has made good moments in her life feel even more meaningful.

On August 19, Gong Hyo Jin spoke about her personal life and career during an interview for her upcoming film The Journey to Gyeongju.

The actress reflected on how her priorities have changed after spending many years in the entertainment industry. She admitted that she used to focus heavily on improving her work and worrying about what came next.

Gong Hyo Jin said, “In the past, after finishing a project, I kept noticing my shortcomings. These days, when I look back at my older works, I sometimes think I was very cute and also feel a little sorry for my younger self.”

She explained that getting older has helped her become more relaxed and present.

She continued, “After turning 40, I started thinking that if I am happy now, I should not worry too much about the next project. I used to put my career first, but now I put my happiness first.”

When asked whether marriage had also helped her feel more comfortable, Gong Hyo Jin agreed and explained that her family became much larger after marrying Kevin Oh.

She said that while she had long been seen as the busy actress in her own family, marriage gave her another side of everyday family life, including becoming a daughter-in-law to Kevin Oh’s family in the United States.

Gong Hyo Jin shared that the support she receives from both families has made the joy of her career successes feel much greater.

She said, “I told my husband that the happiness and sense of abundance I feel when a project does well seems to have multiplied several times.”

When Kevin Oh asked why she was thanking him, Gong Hyo Jin replied, “I don’t know. It just feels like the happiness has doubled. You are happy, and the family in the United States is happy too.”

She explained that while she and her own family have experienced the emotions that come with her projects succeeding before, it feels new for her extended family.

Gong Hyo Jin added, “When more family members can share that happiness, my own happiness becomes bigger too. It makes my heart feel fuller.”

The actress said she hopes her current projects continue to receive a positive response and asked viewers to look forward to what comes next.

Meanwhile, Gong Hyo Jin stars in The Journey to Gyeongju, which is scheduled to be released on August 26.