The long-term relationship between Korean actor Goo Kyo-hwan (구교환) and director Lee Ok-seop (이옥섭) has recently become a hot topic again. It was revealed that the couple legally registered their marriage in 2022, officially becoming husband and wife, but kept the news private until its recent disclosure.
Following the news, the couple's decision to keep their marital status private for approximately four years has sparked discussion across Korean online communities. While some netizens expressed curiosity about why they chose not to disclose their marriage, many others argued that given their long-term public relationship, it couldn't be considered 'pretending to be single'.
Goo Kyo-hwan's agency, Namu Actors, released a statement on June 1, saying, "Actor Goo Kyo-hwan and director Lee Ok-seop have trusted and relied on each other as lovers for a long time, and completed their marriage registration in 2022, officially becoming husband and wife." The agency described them as "each other's closest partners and family" and added, "We hope everyone will send warm blessings and support for their future."
Both Goo Kyo-hwan and Lee Ok-seop are alumni of Seoul Institute of the Arts. They met in 2013 and later developed their friendship into a romantic relationship. In 2020, they publicly confirmed their relationship, and two years later, they quietly registered their marriage.
Notably, Lee Ok-seop's past interview content resurfaced after the marriage news broke. During a program in 2023, she described her relationship with Goo Kyo-hwan as "dating for 10 years." When asked when they started dating, she replied, "We met 10 years ago."
Even when director Jang Hang-jun (장항준) commented on their relationship, suggesting they "didn't seem to have marriage plans," Lee Ok-seop did not reveal that they had already completed their marriage registration.
The couple not only did not hold a wedding but also kept their marriage news private, and reportedly have no plans for a wedding at present. After the news broke, some netizens were surprised by their low-key approach, with some even questioning, "Since they were already publicly dating, why didn't they even disclose their marriage?" and "So, were they pretending to be single for these four years?"
However, these comments quickly drew rebuttals from other netizens. After the discussion appeared on a Korean forum, it quickly accumulated over a thousand comments. Many netizens argued that Goo Kyo-hwan and Lee Ok-seop's long-term public relationship meant their status was no secret in Korea, making the 'pretending to be single' claim unreasonable.
One netizen directly stated, "Huh? Aren't they famous for being in a long-term relationship? Where does 'pretending to be single' come from?" Another commented, "I don't really know Goo Kyo-hwan well, but I know he's been dating that director for a long time."
Other netizens pointed out that the couple not only frequently collaborated but also naturally mentioned each other on programs, social media, and various public occasions. "They had a couple's YouTube channel, collaborated together, often showed aspects of their cohabiting life, and mentioned each other on every show. Even I, who am not a fan, knew about them." Some even jokingly asked, "Huh? Did anyone not know they were dating?" and "If you didn't know they were dating, what kind of fan are you?"
Many netizens also felt that given the extent of their long-term relationship, even without publicly registering their marriage, it already felt like a 'de facto marriage.' "They totally seemed like a de facto marriage," and "They felt like family when they appeared on variety shows."
Some also suggested that those who felt disappointed might have had different expectations for the couple's relationship. "They probably treated them as a fictional couple, and then he suddenly became a married man, so they got angry."
Overall, however, many long-time fans expressed congratulations, with some netizens even joking, "Most old fans are in congratulatory mode; it would be bigger news if they announced a breakup instead." Another said, "They've been a couple for many years, and now they're married instead of breaking up, so people should be happy. What's there to say?"
Goo Kyo-hwan and Lee Ok-seop are not just life partners but also long-term creative collaborators. They met through the film A Dog's Disposition (4학년 보경), and subsequently collaborated on works such as Love Docu, Fly to the Sky, and Maggie. They also co-founded the production team 2X9HD, evolving from lovers to husband and wife over many years.
Now that the news of their marriage registration four years ago has come to light, this long-private relationship has once again become a topic of conversation. The focus of online discussion in Korea has gradually shifted from "why hide the marriage news" to "they were clearly a publicly dating, long-term couple, so it's not like they were pretending to be single."
