What would you give up for love? These five Korean celebrities risked their entire careers. They faced harsh criticism when they chose to marry partners with controversial pasts.
1. HyunA
YTN broke the news in July 2024 about HyunA’s wedding plans. She and former HIGHLIGHT member Yong Junhyung set their date for October 11. Fans quickly attacked HyunA because Yong was linked to the Burning Sun scandal.
This wedding news hurt HyunA’s career right away. Her North America tour was suddenly canceled after the announcement. No official reason was given for the cancellation. However, K-Pop fans believe poor ticket sales caused it. They blame her choice of fiancé for the low interest.
2. Hani (EXID)
Sports Kyunghyang reported in May 2024 that Hani would marry soon. Her fiancé, psychiatrist Yang Jae Woong, planned to wed her in September 2024.
Trouble started when news broke about Yang’s patient. The patient died from neglect while under Yang’s care. Then, Yang skipped the patient’s funeral. Even worse, their wedding announcement came right after this funeral. Hani couldn’t escape the backlash that followed.
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The scandal affected Hani’s work. She stepped back from a JTBC program where she had already been cast.
3. Jang Shin Young
News broke in January 2024 about Jang Shin Young’s husband. Actor Kang Kyung Joon faced legal action for having an affair. The other person was also married. Kang later admitted to the affair in court.
Despite this public shame, Jang chose to stay in her marriage. She posted on Instagram on August 19, 2024. Her message stated she wouldn’t divorce him “for the sake of [their] children.”
Many fans supported her difficult choice. Others worried about her future. Some think her husband’s actions might harm her career. They fear she may struggle to get new acting roles.
4. Lee Seung Gi
Singer and actor Lee Seung Gi shared big news in February 2023. He posted a handwritten letter on Instagram. The letter announced his engagement to actress Lee Da In.
Lee Da In’s family had a “criminal” past. This led to extreme opposition from fans. Some even sent protest trucks to Lee Seung Gi’s neighborhood. They hoped to change his mind. Despite this, he went ahead with the wedding. Many believe this choice ended his successful solo career.
His concert after the wedding didn’t go well. Since then, Lee Seung Gi hasn’t been very active in singing or acting. The couple welcomed a baby girl in February 2024. Things seemed to calm down for a while. But in June 2024, more trouble came. The South Korean Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling. This case involved Lee Seung Gi’s father-in-law and stock manipulation. The decision brought back all the criticism.
5. LYn
Ilgan Sports announced in April 2014 that singer LYn would marry Lee Soo. Lee Soo was the vocalist for MC the Max and her friend for ten years. Their news caused heated debates. Lee Soo had a troubled past. During his military service in 2009, he was accused of trying to buy sex from a middle school student online.
Unlike the others, LYn kept her career going strong after marriage. She released many popular K-Drama soundtracks after their September 2014 wedding. She often defends her husband against rumors about his past.
Lee Soo hasn’t been as lucky. He still faces criticism when he performs. He appears in LYn’s YouTube videos regularly. According to his Instagram, he now works as a scuba diving instructor too.