T-ara’s Ham Eun-jung to marry Kim Byung-woo, joining list of actor-director couples
Ham Eun-jung, left, and Kim Byung-woo / Xportsnews
Singer and actress Ham Eun-jung, best known as a member of T-ara, is getting married to film director Kim Byung-woo, joining the ranks of Korea’s notable actor-director couples.
Ham’s agency, Mark Studio, confirmed to Xportsnews Thursday that “Ham Eun-jung will marry director Kim Byung-woo on Nov. 30.” The agency added, “After a long relationship, the two decided to tie the knot. The wedding will be held privately.”
The couple, who have an eight-year age difference, reportedly met not through a film project — as is common among industry couples — but through acquaintances in a movie circle, before their friendship blossomed into romance.
A long line of director-actor couples in Korean entertainment
Ham and Kim’s marriage adds to a list of notable director-actor relationships that have long fascinated the public.
Moon So-ri / Xportsnews
Among the most well-known are director Jang Joon-hwan and actress Moon So-ri, who married in December 2006. The two first met while filming the music video for the 2003 song “Tear Flower.” Over their 18-year marriage, they’ve shown creative chemistry on-screen, with Moon making a special appearance in Jang’s political drama movie “1987: When the Day Comes” (2017) and Jang participating in Moon’s self-directed film “The Running Actress” (2017).
Tang Wei, left, and Kim Tae-yong / Xportsnews
Another famous couple is director Kim Tae-yong and Chinese actress Tang Wei, who met on the set of the 2010 film “Late Autumn.” Their relationship drew widespread attention when they married four years later, in July 2014. Tang later won the Best Actress award in film at the Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance in “Late Autumn” and recently reunited with Kim in his 2024 fantasy drama “Wonderland.”
However, not all director-actor relationships have been free of controversy. Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee, who first worked together on the 2015 film “Right Now, Wrong Then,” shocked the public in 2017 when they admitted to having an extramarital affair during the promotion of “On the Beach at Night Alone,” another collaboration. The couple has since kept a low profile in Korea, appearing only at overseas film festivals. In April, they made headlines again after reportedly welcoming a son.
Another pair, director Cho Ba-reun and actress Kim Bo-ra, met through the 2021 horror film “Ghost Mansion” and tied the knot in June 2024 after going public with their relationship. However, they announced their divorce less than a year later.
New generation couples: Jeon Jong-seo, Koo Kyo-hwan and more
Jeon Jong-seo / Xportsnews
While some relationships have ended, new ones continue to capture fans’ attention.
Director Lee Chung-hyun and actress Jeon Jong-seo, who met while filming the 2020 Netflix film “The Call,” have been dating publicly since 2021. They reunited in Netflix’s 2023 action film “Ballerina,” further cementing their reputation as a creative couple. Lee was also seen supporting Jeon during her father’s funeral in 2023, where he was listed among the family mourners.
Koo Kyo-hwan / Xportsnews
Meanwhile, director Lee Ok-seop and actor Koo Kyo-hwan are one of Korea’s most beloved indie film couples. The two have collaborated on multiple projects, including Lee’s feature “Maggie” (2019), which starred Koo, and their upcoming co-directed film “Your Nation.” The pair recently appeared together on comedian Jang Do-yeon’s YouTube variety show, “Salon Drip 2,” showing off their natural chemistry.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.