5 Korean Celebrities Who Risked It All With Their Controversial Marriages

What are you willing to risk for love? For these five Korean celebrities, it was their careers in the entertainment business. These five faced fierce backlash when they announced their plans to tie the knot with their “controversial” partners.

HyunA

In July 2024, an exclusive report from YTN announced that HyunA and former HIGHLIGHT member Yong Junhyung had set their wedding date for October 11. Immediately, HyunA was lambasted for her decision as Yong was involved in the infamous Burning Sun scandal.

HyunA, Yong Jun Hyung, And Burning Sun — The Real Facts About The Controversial Relationship

The wedding announcement had an irreversible impact on HyunA’s career. While the exact reason was never given, her North America tour was called off shortly after the wedding announcement. K-Pop fans remain 100% convinced that the low ticket sales were due to her controversial fiancé.

HyunA’s North America Concert Tour Is Canceled

Hani (EXID)

In May 2024, an exclusive report from Sports Kyunghyang announced that Hani and her psychiatrist fiancé, Yang Jae Woong, would get married in September 2024.

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But after news of Yang’s patient getting neglected to death—and when it was revealed that the wedding announcement came right after the patient’s funeral, which Yang was slammed for not having attended—Hani could not avoid some of the heat being directed at her.

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Amid the scandal, Hani withdrew from a JTBC program she had been cast in.

Jang Shin Young

In January 2024, it was revealed that actress Jang Shin Young’s actor husband, Kang Kyung Joon, was sued for having an extramarital relationship with another married woman. Kang later admitted in court that he had, indeed, been adulterous.

Newlywed Actor Sued For Shocking Alleged Affair With Married Woman

Despite the public humiliation, Jang confirmed in a long Instagram statement posted August 19, 2024 (KST) that she will not be divorcing him “for the sake of [their] children.”

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While Jang’s fans supported her decision that could not have been easy to make, some believed her husband’s affair will only brand her for the rest of her life—possibly making it difficult for her to get cast in roles.

Lee Seung Gi

In February 2023, singer and actor Lee Seung Gi announced via Instagram in a handwritten letter that he was getting married to his girlfriend, actress Lee Da In.

The Full Story Behind Lee Seung Gi And Lee Da In’s Controversial Relationship

Given Lee Da In’s family’s “criminal” background, Lee Seung Gi’s announcement was met with extreme opposition. Protest trucks were sent to Lee Seung Gi’s neighborhood, from fans desperate to convince him. Lee Seung Gi pushed forward with the wedding, which later was deemed to have ended his glory days as a soloist.

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After the fumbled concert, Lee Seung Gi has not been too active in pursuing his singing or acting careers any further. The Lees did welcome a daughter in February 2024—and things seemed to be stabilizing for the new parents. But as of June 2024, the South Korean Supreme Court overturned a not-guilty verdict in the stock manipulation case of Lee Seung Gi’s father-in-law, re-igniting criticism that troubled the couple.

Supreme Court Reverses “Not Guilty” Verdict For Lee Seung Gi’s Father-In-Law In Market Manipulation Case

LYn

In April 2014, Ilgan Sports announced that LYn is getting married to her decade-long best friend and MC the Max vocalist Lee Soo. The announcement sparked a heated debate back then, as Lee Soo was placed on suspension of indictment for three occasions of soliciting prostitution of a middle school student online during his alternative military service in 2009.

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Despite her controversial husband, LYn has remained relevant in the Korean entertainment business even after the marriage. Some of her most recognized hits are K-Drama soundtracks, all released around or after the wedding in September 2014. LYn has also been quite vocal in standing up for her husband when rumors run rampant about his criminal past.

Lee Soo himself has not been able to return to the scene—at least, not without overwhelming criticism. He does continue to perform at concerts and make regular appearance in LYn’s YouTube videos, but his Instagram profile says he is now a scuba diving instructor.