Rapper Big Naughty legally married to childhood crush, agency says
In short
South Korean rapper Big Naughty (빅나티), real name Seo Dong-hyun (서동현), told fans on 14 October that he would spend his life with "that friend" who appears in his songs Vancouver and Vancouver 2. His agency said the same day that he had already registered the marriage with his girlfriend, who is not a celebrity, and that the two are legally married. He is currently doing alternative service as a social service agent.
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South Korean rapper Big Naughty (빅나티), whose real name is Seo Dong-hyun (서동현), announced his marriage on 14 October in a group chat room for fans. "I wanted to tell you first before people find out," he wrote, according to Newsis. "You may already know, and it may be sudden, but I have decided to spend my life with that friend who appears in many songs, such as Vancouver and Vancouver 2." He thanked fans for helping those songs come out and said he would return as a more mature young man. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
His agency, Haieo Music (하이어뮤직), said the same day that he had already completed marriage registration with his girlfriend, who is not a celebrity, and that the two are legally married, Yonhap, OSEN and CBS NoCut News reported. Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily said details of the spouse's identity were not disclosed. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 ]
In an Instagram post he wrote, "We first met at 9, and I am getting married at 24." Seoul Shinmun said the post came with a video of the couple's memories, including a scene of him handing over a ring and proposing in a car. CBS NoCut News said the English text gave 2011 as the year they met and 2026 as the year of the marriage, and that he said he had uploaded a song to YouTube. He wrote that he would return more mature after faithfully completing his service. Most outlets date the post to 14 October; CBS NoCut News dates it to 15 October. [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 ]
Big Naughty had previously said that someone he had a crush on for more than 10 years, since elementary school, became his girlfriend. Yonhap reported that his lyrics described missing her after she left to study abroad, and that she got in touch after hearing the songs. CBS NoCut News said he told the KBS2 programme The Seasons (더 시즌즈) in 2023 that he was in a long-distance relationship with a partner living in Vancouver, Canada. On 16 October he posted a photo with his wife, OSEN reported. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
Born in 2003, Big Naughty appeared on Mnet's Show Me the Money 8 in 2019 while a student at Daewon Foreign Language High School and finished joint third, then debuted that November with the single Sibaljeom (시발점). He is doing alternative service as a social service agent; Newsis says he started on 10 September, while Hankook Ilbo says he began in September. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
Outlets linked the marriage to Vancouver and Vancouver 2, songs he wrote about a woman he had long had feelings for, and Hankook Ilbo reported that congratulations were pouring in. He made the announcement while doing alternative service and said he would return after completing it.
Key facts
- Big Naughty announced his marriage on 14 October in a group chat room for fans. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
- His agency said he had completed marriage registration with his non-celebrity girlfriend and the two are legally married. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- The spouse's identity has not been disclosed. [ 4 , 7 ]
- In a social media post he wrote that they first met at age 9 and he is marrying at 24. [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 ]
- Outlets say his spouse is the subject of his songs Vancouver and Vancouver 2. [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
- He was born in 2003 and became known through Mnet's Show Me the Money 8 in 2019. [ 2 , 6 , 11 ]
- He is doing alternative service as a social service agent, which began in September. [ 2 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Big Naughty announced his marriage to fans on 14 October. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- His agency said he and his girlfriend, who is not a celebrity, have completed marriage registration and are legally married. [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- He said he would spend his life with the friend who appears in songs including Vancouver and Vancouver 2. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- He had previously said that someone he had a crush on for more than 10 years, since elementary school, became his girlfriend. [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
- He is currently serving as a social service agent. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Still unclear
- The date of his Instagram post announcing the marriage. Hankook Ilbo, Korea Economic Daily and Seoul Shinmun date the post to 14 October; CBS NoCut News dates it to 15 October.
- When his social service began. Newsis reports he has served since 10 September; Hankook Ilbo says only that he began in September.
- Whether a wedding ceremony is planned. Several headlines say he will marry, while the agency says the couple are already legally married; no document mentions a ceremony.
- His age. Outlets give his age as 23, while his own post says he is marrying at 24; the documents do not explain the difference.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 14 October: OSEN, carried by Chosun Ilbo, reports Big Naughty's marriage announcement to fans. [ 1 ]
- 14 October: Newsis reports the announcement. [ 2 ]
- 14 October: Yonhap reports the agency's statement that the couple are legally married. [ 4 ]
- 15 October: OSEN reports the agency's official statement that marriage registration is complete. [ 5 ]
- 16 October: OSEN reports that Big Naughty posted a photo with his wife. [ 12 ]