Actors Kwak Si-yang (곽시양) and Yoo Ji-ae (유지애), formerly of K-pop girl group Lovelyz, have unexpectedly announced their marriage. The couple reportedly dated privately for about a year, with no prior dating rumors, skipping the public acknowledgment stage entirely to reveal their wedding plans. The news has surprised many, and Kwak Si-yang's agency clarified the decision to marry was not due to a premarital pregnancy.
Kwak Si-yang's agency, 9ato Entertainment, confirmed on the 3rd that Kwak and Yoo will hold their wedding in November. The agency stated the couple "decided to spend their future together based on deep trust and love." Yoo Ji-ae's agency, KPLUS Holdings, also confirmed the two are preparing for their wedding.
The couple reportedly met through a mutual acquaintance and naturally developed a romantic relationship, dating quietly for approximately one year. They kept their relationship private, with almost no public sightings or dating rumors. This led to widespread surprise when the wedding announcement was made, revealing they had been in a relationship for some time.
The wedding is scheduled for November 28 at a hotel in Yongsan District, Seoul, and will be a private ceremony attended only by family, relatives, and close friends. Given the sudden nature of the announcement, both Kwak Si-yang and Yoo Ji-ae personally shared handwritten letters on their social media platforms to express their feelings to fans.
Kwak Si-yang wrote, "I have met a very precious person with whom I want to spend my life." He stated that based on their mutual trust and love, they decided to walk through life together. "We will be each other's strongest support during difficult times, laugh together in happy moments, and strive to build a warm family." Addressing his fans, he promised to meet them with a more mature image after marriage and to continue working hard as an actor, repaying their support with good works and performances.
Yoo Ji-ae wrote, "I have met someone with whom I want to cherish each other, rely on each other, and spend future time together," officially announcing a new beginning in her life to her fans.
However, Yoo Ji-ae also specifically mentioned in her letter that the wedding news was prematurely leaked by the media, expressing regret to her fans. She stated, "Because this is a very precious matter to me, I originally wanted to convey this news more carefully, but I couldn't, and my heart is heavy." She also appealed to her fans, hoping they would bless this new chapter of her life with warm hearts. "If you can bless my new beginning with good intentions and warmth, I would be truly happy."
Following the wedding announcement, Kwak Si-yang's past remarks about marriage have resurfaced. In January of last year, he confessed on MBC's "Radio Star," "I really want to get married quickly, but realistically, I don't have the money."
At 38 years old at the time, Kwak Si-yang revealed that although he had continuously appeared in many projects, a large portion of his earnings went towards repaying family debts. He explained that he was the youngest child in his family, and with his parents' poor health, there were significant long-term medical expenses. Therefore, instead of saving money for himself, he chose to first resolve his family's financial problems.
Even facing financial pressures, Kwak Si-yang never gave up the idea of starting a family. He once said, "I want my parents to see me living happily." He even revealed that after marriage, he hoped to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain with his spouse.
In a 2024 interview, Kwak Si-yang also mentioned that he had dreamed of marriage since childhood, hoping to "form a happy family and live joyfully," and looked forward to finding a lifelong partner like a friend, someone to rely on and support each other.
Now, approximately 1 year and 8 months after his candid confession about financial struggles, Kwak Si-yang, who once openly expressed his worries about economic realities, has finally found his life partner. After quietly loving Yoo Ji-ae for about a year, his long-held wish for a family is about to come true.
Kwak Si-yang, born in 1987, is 6 years older than Yoo Ji-ae, who was born in 1993. Kwak debuted in 2014 with the film Night Flight and has since appeared in works such as Oh My Ghost, Fight for My Way, Alice, Lovers of the Red Sky, Café Minamdang, Flex X Cop, and Good Partner. He is also set to return to the small screen on December 12 with the new KBS2 weekend drama You Are Not the One, Another Love. The announcement of his marriage just before the new drama's broadcast marks a double celebration for his career and love life.
Yoo Ji-ae debuted in 2014 as a member of Lovelyz, gaining popularity with hit songs like "Ah-Choo," "Annyeong," and "Destiny." After the group's activities concluded, she expanded her acting career, appearing in works such as The Escape of the Seven, The Third Marriage, and films like Windmill and 4 Minutes 44 Seconds.
After about a year of a low-key relationship, the couple has finally announced their major life event, adding another celebrity couple to the entertainment industry.
