South Korean actor Ha Jung-woo (하정우), 47, a veteran of over 20 years, has cemented his status as a top star in Chungmuro, Korea’s film industry hub, with acclaimed works like The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, The Berlin File, Assassination, Tunnel, and the Along with the Gods series. Known for keeping his personal life private, he confirmed his relationship with actress Cha Jung-won (차정원), 36, earlier this year. Today, December 14, both their agencies officially confirmed the marriage, announcing that the couple will hold a private wedding ceremony at a Seoul hotel on December 13. The news has garnered significant attention.
With the wedding date officially announced, a segment from Cha Jung-won’s July appearance on a variety show has resurfaced and is drawing renewed discussion. In the clip, she not only openly discussed her boyfriend but also showed a humorous side, a stark contrast to her usual elegant and fashionable image. She even shyly remarked, “He hasn’t seen this side of me; he might be surprised!” Her amusing reaction has unexpectedly become a trending topic following the wedding announcement.
Ha Jung-woo’s agency, Workhouse Company, announced on December 14 that he and Cha Jung-won will hold a private wedding ceremony at a Seoul hotel on December 13. Saram Entertainment, Cha Jung-won’s agency, also confirmed the impending marriage.
According to Korean media reports, Ha Jung-woo has been sending out wedding invitations to his close friends and family. A mutual friend of the couple revealed, “Ha Jung-woo is a very straightforward person. He has always been honest with his friends and family about his relationship with Cha Jung-won. When discussing marriage, he once said, ‘I’ll tell everyone when the time is right.’ Now, just as he said, once everything was prepared, he officially contacted his loved ones and invited them to the wedding.”
Ha Jung-woo and Cha Jung-won reportedly met in 2020 through a mutual friend’s gathering and gradually developed a romantic relationship. Born in 1978, Ha Jung-woo is 11 years older than Cha Jung-won, who was born in 1989. After several years of dating, the couple officially went public with their relationship earlier this year. While marriage rumors had circulated previously, both sides had stated at the time that there were no definite plans. Now, they have finally announced their wedding date.
Following the happy news, past footage of Cha Jung-won discussing her relationship on a variety show has resurfaced. In July, when she appeared on the SBS variety program Oh, But Seriously (아니 근데 진짜), Lee Soo-ji (이수지) greeted her with a smile, saying, “I saw it in the news, congratulations!” Host Boom (붐) also offered his blessings. Later, Lee Sang-min (이상민) curiously asked, “How’s your boyfriend doing these days?” Cha Jung-won shyly smiled and simply replied, “He’s doing well,” creating a warm atmosphere on set with her sweet reaction.
During the program, guests also discussed Ha Jung-woo’s wine business. Lee Sang-min asked her, “Does he own a winery, or does he just make wine?” Cha Jung-won laughed and replied, “He just has wine; it’s for a winery.” Her remark drew continuous laughter from the guests.
Beyond discussing her relationship, Cha Jung-won unexpectedly showcased her hidden variety show talent that day. She imitated singer IVY’s hit songs with a unique vocal style and even displayed her voice impersonation skills, creating a strong contrast to her usual composed and fashionable image, filling the studio with laughter.
After watching, host Tak Jae-hoon (탁재훈) couldn’t help but praise her, saying, “She’s very charming; the world just hasn’t discovered it yet!” Lee Soo-ji also gave a thumbs-up, expressing her admiration, which brought unexpected attention to Cha Jung-won’s comedic talent.
When asked about her boyfriend’s reaction to seeing this side of her, Lee Sang-min further inquired, “What would your boyfriend do if he saw you like this?” Cha Jung-won shyly responded, “He hasn’t seen this side of me, so he might be surprised.” This comment offered a glimpse into another aspect of their private interactions, and the related clips are once again sparking discussion following the wedding announcement.
Now, Ha Jung-woo and Cha Jung-won are set to hold their private wedding on December 13, officially embarking on a new chapter in their lives. This relationship, spanning an 11-year age difference and multiple years of dating, has finally come to fruition, with fans sending an outpouring of blessings.
