Actress Han Ga-in (한가인) and fellow actor Yeon Jung-hoon (연정훈) first met in 2003 while co-starring in the drama “Yellow Handkerchief.” After two years of dating, Han married at 22. The couple has been married for over 20 years, maintaining a stable relationship. However, Han recently revealed a rare pre-wedding secret: she almost backed out of the wedding just two days before the ceremony, telling Yeon, “I’m not getting married, I really can’t do it!” This even led him to rush to her film set to reconcile.
On April 7, Han Ga-in appeared on the YouTube channel “Together with Sean,” where she shared her experiences after six months of continuous running. During the conversation, she unexpectedly discussed her marital life and relationship with her husband. She revealed that this anecdote had almost never been made public before, stating, “Actually, until two days before the wedding, I was still saying I wouldn’t get married.”
She recalled telling Yeon Jung-hoon directly, “I’m not getting married, I really can’t do it.” To her surprise, Yeon, upon hearing this, rushed to her filming location to try and salvage their relationship.
The trigger for Han Ga-in’s sudden change of heart was actually related to Yeon Jung-hoon’s friends who had traveled from the United States for the wedding. Yeon had lived in the U.S. during his youth, so many friends flew to Korea for the ceremony. Han explained that she was busy filming, while Yeon was out dining and socializing with his friends. Watching Yeon enjoy himself so much with his friends, she began to worry, “If he’s still like this after we get married, won’t it be a problem?” At the time, she seriously thought, “I can’t get married; I really can’t live this kind of life.”
Beyond their differing social habits, their daily routines were also completely opposite. Han Ga-in is a typical early riser, while Yeon Jung-hoon is a classic night owl. For him, 2 or 3 a.m. was not late, but for Han, it was “the middle of the night’s middle.” “I’d think, how can he play until 2 or 3 a.m.?” Han admitted that the significant difference in their life rhythms was very difficult for her to understand at the time.
Looking back at her marriage, Han Ga-in laughed, saying she had never intended to marry so early. She revealed that she had planned to “absolutely not get married” before 30, and if she did, she hoped to find someone significantly older than herself. “Because I felt my father’s absence growing up, I wanted a partner who could be like a father, giving me warmth and understanding. At the time, I hoped he would be at least 8 years older than me.” However, her life ended up not following her original plans at all. She chuckled, “Small things can be planned, but big life plans never seem to go as intended.” Now, the couple has been together for over 20 years.
Even more interestingly, Han Ga-in admitted that her first impression of Yeon Jung-hoon was actually “not good.” She revealed that what bothered her most was Yeon’s tendency to be “nice to everyone.” “I didn’t like that he was so friendly to everyone, because if he could be like that with others, didn’t that mean I wasn’t special? I like someone who is only good to me.” At the time, she even thought, “This person is indeed kind, but if he had a girlfriend, it would probably be very difficult.”
Furthermore, Yeon Jung-hoon had studied abroad and majored in art, which initially led Han Ga-in to have some preconceived notions about him. However, after spending time with him and observing him, she realized Yeon was not what she had imagined, and their distance gradually closed.
What truly made Han Ga-in let down her guard was Yeon Jung-hoon’s persistent and continuous pursuit. Han revealed that Yeon was very dedicated to her, waiting for her to finish work every day even when he wasn’t filming, and even treating her staff to meals. He gradually integrated himself into her life. “He really put a lot of effort into me and was very good to me.” Han stated that Yeon even developed a close friendship with her manager, to the point where her manager’s brother would visit Yeon’s house daily.
It’s worth noting that Yeon Jung-hoon’s family background has also garnered significant attention from Korean netizens. His father is veteran actor Yeon Gyu-jin (연규진), and his family is rumored to have substantial financial resources. Reportedly, Yeon Gyu-jin’s parents previously ran a pharmacy, then successively invested in cinemas and acting academies, accumulating assets through real estate investments. As a result, Yeon Jung-hoon has often been listed by Korean netizens as one of the entertainment industry’s “golden spoon” representatives since his debut.
Now, Han Ga-in and Yeon Jung-hoon have been married for over 20 years. The crisis, which almost saw Han call off the wedding two days before the ceremony, ultimately did not break them apart, but instead became a dramatic anecdote in their long-standing marriage.
