Top 7 Korean celebrity couples who set examples of fidelity to each other
Dating in K-biz is never easy – stars are constantly in the spotlight and the fate of
their careers is at the mercy of public perception.
It’s even more difficult when celebrities embark on non-traditional relationships, such
as those between older women and younger men, which can face strong criticism.
So it’s not surprising that many stars with unconventional love lives end up keeping their
romances a secret.
1.
Shin Min-ah and Kim Woo-bin The relationship between Shin Min-ah and Kim
Woo-bin has not been smooth, despite recent wedding rumours.
Kim started dating Shin, who is five years older than him, a year after his split from
Dior model Yoo Ji-ah.
The couple confirmed their relationship in July 2015, but Kim came under fire for moving
on too quickly, according to KBizoom.
The couple never spoke about each other in public again, creating speculation among K-drama
fans that the two wouldn’t last long.
Two years after confirming their relationship, Kim was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer,
prompting Shin to take a break from her thriving career to care for him.
The actress often accompanied him to the hospital, KBIZoom reports.
After two years, when Kim had recovered, Shin returned to her career.
Now, rumours are swirling that Kim and Shin are set to tie the knot this year.
2.
Rain and Kim Tae-hee According to Channel Korea, It was reportedly
love at first sight for Hallyu King Rain and Stairway to Heaven star Kim Tae-hee, who started
dating secretly in 2012 after filming an ad together.
But the pair came under fire in 2013 following reports that Kim went on dates with the actress
while on official military duty, according to The Korea Herald, breaking military service
guidelines.
The K-pop star was sentenced to seven days of confinement as a result.
Kim stood by Rain amid his controversies.
The pair, who are among the richest couples in South Korea, tied the knot in a small ceremony
in 2017, according to Channel Korea.
They now have two daughters together.
3.
Kwon Sang-woo and Son Tae-young Kwon Sang-woo was set on Son Tae-young even
before they started dating.
He persuaded a mutual friend to introduce them and brought up the topic of marriage
on their second date.
Since then, the love between the former Miss Korea-turned-actress and the heartthrob actor
is still going strong after almost 14 years of marriage.
The lovebirds tied the knot in 2008, and have a son and a daughter.
However, in order to have a fulfilling life like today, the couple had to go through fierce
storms, and they still chose to hold each other's hands tightly.
More than 10 years since entering the entertainment industry, Kwon Sang Woo worked hard in filming
and did not get into any scandals, did not publicize his feelings for anyone.
Therefore, when he dated and married the scandalous beauty Son Tae Young , the actor had to face
a wave of violent backs from fans.
4.
BigBang’s Taeyang and Min Hyo-rin BigBang’s Taeyang and actress Min Hyo-rin
went from on-screen lovers in the 2013 music video for 1AM, to real life partners.
The couple kept their relationship a secret before making it official in 2013.
During that time, Min revealed that the two even broke up briefly, but they quickly got
back together.
The pair married in February 2018 in a private ceremony.
Soon after their wedding, their relationship became long-distance after Taeyang had to
enlist for his mandatory military service, but the strict rules he had to follow during
his service and the distance only made their relationship stronger.
In September, they announced that they are expecting their first child.
5.
Hyuna and Dawn K-pop star Hyuna made her relationship with
rapper Dawn public in an Instagram post in 2018, and the pair also confirmed their relationship
with Yonhap News – a move that created controversy with their agencies.
The former 4minute girl group member said she decided to open up about the relationship
because she wanted to be honest with her fans.
In the same year, Cube Entertainment announced that Hyuna’s contract had been terminated.
After the news broke, she posted a video on Instagram of her and Dawn together.
Soon after, Dawn was also fired from the agency.
Both decisions were met with backlash, with fans of both stars coming to their defence.
However, the two lovebirds bounced back.
In 2019, Hyuna and Dawn joined P Nation, the label run by Gangnam Style artist Psy.
6.
Han Hye-jin and Ki Sung-yueng The Jumong star and the former Premier League
football player caused a stir in the first half of 2013.
They denied dating rumours, then admitted to their relationship … but then denied
wedding rumours only to tie the knot six months later.
In an appearance on SBS talk show Healing Camp, the couple revealed that they had a
short break-up before walking down the aisle due to the pressure of being in the public
eye.
But Ki, who decided to end the relationship, patched things up soon after.
The couple tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony in July 2013.
Later, Han – who is eight years older than Ki – moved to England to be with him, per
Soompi.
Known as the Posh and Becks of South Korea, the pair now have a daughter together.
7.
Jung Suk-won and Baek Ji-young Actor Jung Suk-won and singer Baek Ji-young
also faced tough opposition towards their relationship due to their age gap – not
only from fans, but also from their respective families.
Baek, 45, is nine years older than Jung, who is 36.
The challenges made Baek ponder a break-up, reports Soompi.
The couple got married in 2013 after two years of dating.
In February 2018, Jung was arrested on suspicion of drug use.
Jung was later released from detention the same month and admitted to using drugs, according
to the same source.