Confucius' 76th-generation descendant holds wedding with M'sian socialite wife in KL

The 76th-generation descendant of Confucius, Jeffrey Kung, held his second wedding with Malaysian socialite Eunice Jaymie Tan in Kuala Lumpur on Mar. 28.

The couple had registered their marriage in 2024 in Los Angeles, where they currently reside, and celebrated it in a wedding there in December 2025.

Recently, they flew to Tan's hometown in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, for a grand Chinese-style ceremony, Taiwan's ETToday reported.

According to Malaysia's China Press, Kung teared up during the wedding rehearsal.

"The reality hit me in an overwhelming way, it was hard to control [my emotions]," he said.

Who are Kung and Tan?

Kung, 44, was born and raised in the United States.

His father, who hailed from Confucius' hometown in China's Shandong province, met his Taiwanese mother in the United States, according to the BBC.

In 2001, he debuted as a hip-hop singer in Taiwan, and his first album won him Best New Artist at the prestigious Golden Melody Awards.

He told ETToday he was once asked about his thoughts on Confucius while on a TV programme.

He jokingly replied, "I think he's a horrible person, and very annoying. I had to memorise 'The Analects' because of him."

His wife also comes from an illustrious family.

Tan's grand-uncle was purportedly the late Lee Shin Cheng, who founded IOI Group, one of Malaysia's largest conglomerates, according to Taiwan's Cava.

Holding a master's degree in education from the University of Melbourne, she has been working as a teacher for the past seven years.

Their relationship

The couple got to know each other in 2023.

Tan initially believed their relationship would not last, as they were at opposite ends of the world, but Kung was determined to make it work.

When they met in person for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, Kung felt certain that Tan was the person he was destined for.

His belief was affirmed when, during their wedding preparations, the couple unexpectedly discovered a connection in their lineage.

Tan's great-aunt, surnamed Kung, was also a descendant of Confucius, just a generation before Tan's husband.

"This is not just fate, but also a sense of continuing a heritage," Kung said, as quoted by China Press. "It's wonderful and moving."

He also mentioned the significance of lineage in an Instagram post about their marriage in May 2025: "As the 76th descendant of Confucius, my family lineage holds deep meaning for me. The responsibility of choosing the right partner carries profound weight as a man of the Kung family."

The KL wedding

Around 350 guests attended the recent wedding, held at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur owned by IOI Group, according to ETToday.

Several celebrity friends, including Taiwanese singer Wang Leehom and Hong Kong singer-actor Jordan Chan, sent their well-wishes via video.

Gifts from the couple's parents included a Patek Philippe watch for Tan, and a Rolex watch for Kung — symbolising how their relationship had crossed oceans and withstood distance, and how their families would continue to be connected.

Top images from Kung via udnstars