Actors Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun to marry Nov. 14; brides are sisters
In short
Actors Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun announced on Oct. 6 that they will marry on Nov. 14, with a private ceremony in Seoul for family and close acquaintances only. They met on the set of “길이 보이면 캐스팅해!”, Lee's first directing work, and began dating with marriage in mind in June. Seoul Economic Daily reported that Cha, whose legal name is Kim Kyung-eun, is the younger sister of actor Kim Seung-yun, who is marrying actor Jang Dong-yoon, making the two grooms in-laws.
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Actors Lee Yoo-jin, 34, and Cha Kyung-eun, 28, will marry on Nov. 14, Lee's side said in an official statement on Oct. 6, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. The wedding will be held privately at a location in Seoul with only family and close acquaintances present, and Lee's side asked for understanding that details including the venue will not be disclosed, Hankook Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo reported. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 9 ]
The two met through “길이 보이면 캐스팅해!”, the short drama Lee directed, Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo reported. Yonhap said Lee fell for Cha at first sight while preparing filming and courted her actively after shooting ended, while Hankook Ilbo said they grew close and built trust during the project and that Lee expressed his feelings seriously afterwards. They began dating with marriage in mind in June and will become a couple five months later, according to Yonhap, Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily. Hankook Ilbo reported that both sides told their families of the decision and received permission, and that preparations moved quickly. [ 1 , 5 , 7 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported on Oct. 6 that Cha, whose legal name is Kim Kyung-eun, is the younger sister of actor Kim Seung-yun, who announced on Aug. 25 that she would marry actor Jang Dong-yoon. The two met while appearing together in KBS 2TV's “조선로코 녹두전” in 2019, and Jang directed the film “누룩” with Kim in the lead, the outlet said. Kim and Jang had planned to hold their wedding in October, it reported, and with the two weddings about a month apart, Jang and Lee will become in-laws. Hankook Ilbo also reported that the brides are sisters and that the grooms will become in-laws. [ 7 , 8 ]
Lee is the son of actor Lee Hyo-jung and the nephew of Lee Ki-young, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. He debuted in 2013 in MBC's “불의 여신 정이” and has appeared in JTBC's “청춘시대2”, tvN's “아는 와이프”, SBS's “브람스를 좋아하세요?” and KBS 2TV's “삼남매가 용감하게”, Yonhap reported. He moved into directing this year, taking second place in May in ENA's short-drama directing competition “디렉터스 아레나” with “길이 보이면 캐스팅해!”, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Cha debuted in 2021 with the short film “복숭아” and later appeared in U+Mobile TV's “미래의 미래” and the sketch comedy “숏박스”, and was a fixed crew member on Coupang Play's “SNL 코리아 리부트” season 7, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. Chosun Ilbo described her as four years younger than Lee; Yonhap gave their ages as 34 and 28. [ 1 , 5 ]
Chosun Ilbo reported that the couple announced the news directly through their own social media accounts on Oct. 6. After the wedding, Hankook Ilbo reported, Lee plans to continue working as both actor and director and Cha as an actor. Chosun Ilbo also said the two had worked together as director and lead actor several times, while Yonhap described the short drama as Lee's first directing work. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The announcement links two acting families: Lee Yoo-jin is the son of veteran actor Lee Hyo-jung, and Cha Kyung-eun is the sister of actor Kim Seung-yun, whose own wedding to actor Jang Dong-yoon was set for about a month earlier. Both Lee and Cha plan to keep working in acting, with Lee also continuing as a director, so the news is mainly of interest to South Korean entertainment audiences.
Key facts
- Actors Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun will marry on Nov. 14, they announced on Oct. 6. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The wedding will be private at a location in Seoul, with only family and close acquaintances, Lee's side said, adding that the venue will not be disclosed. [ 5 , 9 ]
- The two met through “길이 보이면 캐스팅해!”, the short drama that was Lee's first directing work. [ 1 , 5 , 9 ]
- They began dating with marriage in mind in June and will marry five months later. [ 1 , 5 , 7 ]
- Lee Yoo-jin is the son of actor Lee Hyo-jung and the nephew of Lee Ki-young. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The brides, Cha Kyung-eun and Kim Seung-yun, are sisters, so the grooms Lee Yoo-jin and Jang Dong-yoon will become in-laws. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Cha Kyung-eun's legal name is Kim Kyung-eun, and she is the younger sister of actor Kim Seung-yun. [ 7 ]
- Kim Seung-yun announced her marriage to Jang Dong-yoon on Aug. 25 and planned an October wedding. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun will marry on Nov. 14. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- They met through Lee Yoo-jin's first directing work, the short drama “길이 보이면 캐스팅해!”. [ 1 , 5 , 9 ]
- They began dating with marriage in mind in June. [ 1 , 5 , 7 ]
- Lee Yoo-jin is the son of actor Lee Hyo-jung and the nephew of Lee Ki-young. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
- The wedding will be held privately in Seoul with only family and close acquaintances, and the venue will not be disclosed. [ 5 , 9 ]
- The two brides are sisters, and the two grooms will become in-laws. [ 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- The ages of Lee Yoo-jin and Cha Kyung-eun. Yonhap reported Lee is 34 and Cha is 28, a six-year gap, while Chosun Ilbo described Cha as four years younger than Lee.
- The exact wedding venue. Lee's side said details including the location will not be disclosed out of consideration for family and guests.
- Whether the two had collaborated on more than one project. Chosun Ilbo said the two had worked together as director and lead actor several times, while Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo described the short drama as Lee's first directing work.
- Whether the wedding of Kim Seung-yun and Jang Dong-yoon took place as planned in October. Seoul Economic Daily reported the October plan; the documents do not say whether the ceremony was held.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports the marriage, the Nov. 14 date and the couple's meeting on set. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports the wedding date. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the official statement from Lee's side. [ 3 ]
- Newsis reports the wedding in its headline. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports details including the private ceremony in Seoul and plans to keep working. [ 5 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports that the couple announced the news through their own social media. [ 6 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that the brides are sisters and the grooms will become in-laws. [ 7 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports that the brides are sisters and the grooms will become in-laws. [ 8 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the wedding date and the private ceremony. [ 9 ]