Gong-joo married her husband, Geum Il-bong. They had two children, Jan-di and Kang-san. When Jan-di was young, Il-bong opened a dry cleaners which the family lived above.[1]
Jan-di at Shinhwa
The family was visited by Jung Sang-rok to offer Jan-di a scholarship to Shinhwa School after she saved a student's life. When she tried to refuse, Gong-joo insisted that Jan-di would attend. Jan-di was angry with her mother, whom informed her that the opportunity was "like winning the lottery." From then on, Gong-joo tried to take care of Jan-di's skin and watched her weight. She wanted her daughter to meet a rich boy to hopefully marry someday.[1]