Heo Kyunghwan's Love Fortune Finally Arrives on 'My Ugly Duckling' — And Fans Are Not Ready

South Korea's beloved family variety show SBS 'My Ugly Duckling' (미운 우리 새끼) is delivering one of its most anticipated episodes of the year on March 29, and if the preview is any indication, fans are going to have a lot to talk about. The spring picnic special features fortune readings that left the studio in a frenzy — and at the center of it all is a prediction about Heo Kyunghwan's love life that nobody saw coming.

The episode, airing March 29 at 9 PM KST on SBS, brings together the show's veteran lineup for a season-opening celebration full of surprises, quiz battles, and a mysterious new guest whose arrival turned the entire recording into something the show's host had never experienced before.

The Fortune That Has Everyone Talking

The highlight of the episode is a segment featuring an astrology and fortune expert who analyzes the life trajectories and upcoming luck of several cast members. The readings were part of a surprise celebration marking a significant personal milestone for Tak Jaehoon (탁재훈), and what the expert revealed quickly overshadowed the occasion itself.

When analyzing Tak Jaehoon's fortune chart, the expert made a comparison that stunned the entire room: Tak Jaehoon's fortune closely resembles that of G-Dragon, the legendary K-pop icon and BIGBANG leader. The comparison sent shockwaves through the studio, drawing cheers and disbelief in equal measure. The expert also revealed details about Tak's inheritance fortune — specifically, favorable signs related to his father's business — adding another layer of intrigue to the reading.

Tak Jaehoon, a veteran comedian and entertainer known for his sharp wit and decades-long career in Korean variety television, appeared visibly surprised by the comparison. G-Dragon's fortune is widely understood in Korean popular culture to represent extraordinary fame, creative vision, and unexpected turns of luck. For a reading to align those two figures drew genuine excitement from both the cast and the studio audience watching the VCR.

Heo Kyunghwan's Big 2026 Love Prediction

But the reading that truly set the internet buzzing was the one for Heo Kyunghwan. According to the fortune expert, 2026 brings an exceptionally strong romantic energy for the comedian — a rare and powerful love fortune that the expert described in unambiguous terms.

For longtime fans of 'My Ugly Duckling,' this is no small announcement. Heo Kyunghwan has been one of the show's most beloved figures precisely because of his persistent single status, which his mother and the show's recurring Mom-vengers have fretted over season after season. The idea that he might actually find romance in 2026 — confirmed by a fortune reading, no less — gave the cast, the mothers watching the VCR, both tears and laughter simultaneously.

Heo's visibility has grown significantly in early 2026. In March, he officially joined MBC's long-running variety show 'Hang Out with Yoo' (놀면 뭐하니?) as a full-time regular member, stepping in following personnel changes on the show. At his introduction ceremony, he appeared in a tuxedo and bowed deeply to viewers, saying, "It has been a long three months. I am truly grateful." With a new regular gig and now a glowing love fortune, Heo's 2026 trajectory looks very different from previous years.

Old vs. New: A Spring Picnic Showdown

Beyond the fortune readings, the March 29 episode serves as a spirited reunion of the show's full cast. The Old Guard — Tak Jaehoon, Im Wonhee, Heo Kyunghwan, and Choi Jinhyuk — faces off against the newer additions — Yoon Hyunmin, Yoon Siyoon, and Jo Jinsae — during a spring picnic setting that turns competitive fast.

The veterans were not exactly welcoming to their younger counterparts. "They don't look miserable enough," one member reportedly said upon seeing the new cast members arrive. "If you're happy, you don't belong on 'My Ugly Duckling'," added another, drawing laughs while simultaneously issuing a not-so-subtle challenge. The established members also put pressure on a prospective new addition who had been working hard to earn a permanent spot on the show.

A trivia battle between the two groups added stakes to the spring outing. The quiz — focused on Korean proverbs and four-character idioms — quickly devolved into chaos, with answers so wrong they became their own form of entertainment. Any cast member who failed to answer correctly faced a punishment delivered by a mysterious giant guest whose identity remained carefully guarded ahead of broadcast.

The Mystery Guest Causing Chaos

Perhaps the most talked-about element ahead of the March 29 airing is the appearance of an unidentified super-sized special guest — described only as having gigantic physical presence and strength — who arrived to shake up both the cast and the studio audience. Host Kim Sungju reportedly said it was unlike anything he had experienced on the show before, an unusual response from someone who has presided over some of Korean variety television's most memorable moments.

The guest's participation in the penalty game — delivering punishment with a massive mallet — resulted in the prop itself splitting in two during use, creating the kind of unexpected, unscripted moment that 'My Ugly Duckling' has always been known for. Details about the guest's identity are being held until broadcast, adding a layer of anticipation for viewers.

A Show Built on Love, Laughter, and Family

'My Ugly Duckling' has been one of SBS's most consistent performers since its launch, reaching a 34-week consecutive ratings top-spot record at its peak. The show's format — single men whose mothers react in real time to footage of their sons' daily lives — has generated consistent emotional and comedic moments across its run. Its cast has rotated over the years, but the show's emotional core remains unchanged: the tension and love between parents and their grown children navigating adult life alone.

The spring picnic format is a recurring fan favorite, typically producing some of the season's most memorable group dynamics. This year's version — with fortune readings, a fierce Old vs. New quiz battle, and a giant mystery guest — looks set to continue that tradition in style.

'My Ugly Duckling' airs every Saturday on SBS. The spring picnic special broadcasts on March 29 at 9 PM KST.