Rare Bae Yong-joon sighting revives interest in Korea's most reclusive celebrities

From left, Bae Yong-joon, Won Bin and Seo Taiji / Xportsnews

A recent public sighting of actor Bae Yong-joon, one of the biggest figures of the Korean wave's early years, has sparked a wave of online discussion in Korea and renewed interest in celebrities who have largely disappeared from public life.

Photos of Bae and his wife, actress Park Soo-jin, surfaced this month after the couple was reportedly spotted traveling in Singapore with actors Park Shin-hye and Choi Tae-joon and their children.

Singaporean media outlets reported that the two families arrived at Changi Airport before later boarding the Disney Adventure cruise.

The images quickly drew attention because Bae, once known as one of Asia's most recognizable Korean stars, has rarely been seen in public since stepping away from the entertainment industry.

In the photos, Bae appears in casual clothing with long hair tied back under a cap, while Park is seen looking after the couple's children.

Bae Yong-joon, left, and Park Soo-jin / Xportsnews

As the images spread online, a netizen who claimed to have seen the families aboard the cruise shared additional impressions of the actor.

"Other than his hair turning gray, he looked very well-maintained," the person said. "His healthy tan was especially noticeable."

The witness also said Bae looked younger and more natural in person than in widely circulated online photos.

"He was tall and had a unique presence. You could immediately understand why he became a celebrity," the netizen said. "He was still very handsome."

Bae and Park have largely stayed out of the spotlight since marrying in 2015. The couple welcomed a son in 2016 and a daughter in 2018 and reportedly later relocated to Hawaii.

Bae has not appeared in an acting role since making a special appearance in the 2011 drama "Dream High." His last social media update was posted in 2017. Park has not acted since the 2013 historical drama "The Blade and Petal," while her most recent social media activity dates back to 2021.

The couple briefly made headlines last year after appearing on the website of a prestigious private school in Hawaii attended by their children.

The renewed attention surrounding Bae has also reignited public curiosity about other Korean stars who have taken unusually long breaks from their careers.

Won Bin / Xportsnews

Among them is actor Won Bin, who remains one of Korea's most famous reclusive celebrities.

Won Bin, who debuted in 1997 and enjoyed years of success in television and film, has not appeared in a new acting project since the 2010 action thriller “The Man from Nowhere.” Despite his 16-year absence from acting, he continues to appear in advertisements and occasionally makes headlines through comments shared by his wife, actress Lee Na-young.

His appearance remains a frequent topic of discussion whenever photos from commercial shoots emerge online.

Last October, Won Bin also attracted attention after it was revealed that rookie actress Han Ga-eul is his niece.

Seo Taiji / Xportsnews

In the music industry, singer-songwriter Seo Taiji is often cited as another major star whose absence has become almost as famous as his career.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern Korean pop music, Seo has not released a studio album since his ninth album, “Quiet Night,” in 2014. He has also not performed publicly since a concert marking the 25th anniversary of his debut in 2017.

Unlike Bae and Won Bin, however, Seo continues to communicate with fans through his official website and social media accounts every Dec. 24.

In his most recent holiday message, posted on Dec. 24 last year, Seo shared that he had reunited with Ellie, the child actress who appeared in music videos for “Quiet Night.”

He also joked that he still had no "good news" to share regarding the comeback fans have long hoped for.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.