A remarkable coincidence has emerged in the South Korean entertainment industry, as actors Jang Dong-yoon (장동윤) and Lee Yoo-jin (이유진) are set to become in-laws. Jang Dong-yoon announced in August that he would marry actress Kim Seung-yoon (김승윤), five years his junior, in October. Today, October 6, Lee Yoo-jin also revealed his marriage plans to his 28-year-old girlfriend, Cha Kyung-eun (차경은), whose birth name is Kim Kyung-eun (김경은). Surprisingly, the two brides-to-be are sisters — the eldest and second of three sisters — meaning the two actors will soon be related by marriage.
Lee Yoo-jin's agency announced on October 6 that he will hold his wedding on November 14 in Seoul, with only family and close friends invited. The ceremony will be private. This means the two sisters will marry within a month of each other, to actors Jang Dong-yoon and Lee Yoo-jin, a coincidence that has left many calling it a truly fated connection.
Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun's relationship also blossomed through their work in the entertainment industry. The two met while collaborating on the short film “Pick a Road When You See It!” (길 보이면 캐스팅해!). Lee Yoo-jin was directing for the first time, and they developed feelings for each other during the preparation and production process. After filming wrapped in June, they officially began dating and seriously pursued their relationship with marriage in mind.
According to Korean media reports, Lee Yoo-jin fell in love with Cha Kyung-eun at first sight during the film's preparation. After filming concluded, he proactively expressed his feelings. Over time, they built deep trust, eventually deciding to marry. Their journey from officially dating to announcing their marriage took only five months, a remarkably swift progression.
Meanwhile, Jang Dong-yoon announced his marriage to Kim Seung-yoon in August, with the wedding scheduled for October. Coincidentally, their connection also stemmed from entertainment projects. Kim Seung-yoon participated in Jang Dong-yoon's directed work “Become My Ear” (내 귀가 되어줘) and the film “Jukgok” (주곡). They collaborated not only in front of the camera but also as director and actress.
Now, both sisters are coincidentally marrying male stars from the entertainment industry, with their weddings just one month apart, adding an extra layer of special connection to both unions. After their marriages, Jang Dong-yoon and Lee Yoo-jin will transition from industry colleagues to family members.
Furthermore, Lee Yoo-jin's family background has once again garnered attention with his marriage announcement. He is the son of veteran actor Lee Hyo-jung (이효정), and his uncle is actor Lee Ki-young (이기영). Both his father and uncle have decades of experience in the entertainment industry, making Lee Yoo-jin a scion of an “acting family.”
However, Lee Yoo-jin did not intentionally reveal his relationship with his father and uncle early in his career, choosing instead to make his own way in the entertainment industry. It wasn't until his appearance on the MBC variety show “I Live Alone” (나 혼자 산다) in 2023 that he personally introduced his father on air. While showing his life in a semi-basement apartment and visiting his father to get food, he revealed, “Those who know, know that my father is actor Lee Hyo-jung,” surprising the guests on the show.
Lee Yoo-jin debuted in 2013 through the MBC drama “Goddess of Fire, Jeongi” (불의 여신 정이). He has since appeared in works such as “Hello, My Twenties! 2” (청춘시대2), “Familiar Wife” (아는 와이프), “Be Melodramatic” (멜로가 체질), “Do You Like Brahms?” (브람스를 좋아하세요?), and “Three Bold Siblings” (삼남매가 용감하게). He has also featured in films like “Two Men” (두 남자), “Daddy You, Daughter Me” (아빠는 딸), “Be with You” (지금 만나러 갑니다), and “Love in the Big City” (대도시의 사랑법).
Cha Kyung-eun entered the entertainment industry in 2021 through the short film “Peach” (복숭아). She later starred in the web drama “PICKGO” and participated in U+Mobiletv’s “Future of the Future” (미래의 미래) and the sketch comedy show “Shortbox” (숏박스). This year, she joined the regular cast of Coupang Play’s “SNL Korea Reboot” Season 7, steadily building her recognition.
With both sisters set to marry in October and November, and both grooms being actors who also met their partners through work, this unique coincidence of “sisters marrying actors, making the two grooms in-laws” has become a particularly special wedding announcement in the Korean entertainment industry recently.
