Shin Min-a carried Buddhist offering rice up Mt. Nam: a love that overcame adversity
Shin Min-a, right, and Kim Woo-bin / Courtesy of AM Entertainment
A deeply personal moment from actor Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a’s wedding has resurfaced online, drawing attention for its emotional backstory and spiritual weight. The officiant at their ceremony, the Buddhist monk Pomnyun, has publicly shared his wedding address, revealing how Shin supported Kim during his battle with cancer in the years before they tied the knot.
On Dec. 23, the Jungto Society, a Buddhist community led by Pomnyun, uploaded the full text of the monk’s wedding speech to its official website. The post also explained how Pomnyun came to officiate the couple’s ceremony, held on Dec. 20 at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul.
According to the account, it was Kim who personally asked Pomnyun to preside over the wedding. Kim first met the monk during his treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017 and found emotional support through their counseling sessions. Shin, who stayed by Kim’s side throughout his illness, also received comfort and guidance from Pomnyun during that period.
Venerable Pomnyun / Hankook Ilbo file
In his address, Pomnyun said he had known the couple for many years and spoke at length about Shin’s character. He said Shin has quietly supported underprivileged children for more than a decade, describing her as warm-hearted and compassionate.
He then shared a story that quickly captured public attention. Pomnyun said that when Kim’s health was at its worst, Shin carried sacks of rice on her head — a traditional Buddhist offering — and prayed at a statue of Avalokitesvara on Mt. Nam in Gyeongju. He emphasized the couple's spiritual journey as they hoped for Kim’s recovery. Pomnyun said Kim later regained his health, and that the two standing together at their wedding was the result of a “deep karmic connection.”
While blessing the couple, Pomnyun also offered realistic advice about married life. He said living together is not easy, noting that differences in perspective inevitably lead to conflict. He urged the couple not only to seek warmth and dependence in marriage but also to respect each other’s individual freedom.
Kim and Shin first publicly confirmed their relationship in 2015 and married after a decade of dating. Their wedding drew attention for its intimate yet star-studded details: actor Lee Kwang-soo served as host, while singer Car, the Garden performed the congratulatory song. With the monk’s address now public, the ceremony has taken on renewed resonance, highlighting how the couple’s relationship was forged through illness, patience and long-term commitment.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.