From left, late Barbie Hsu and DJ Koo’s social media, Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, Lee Si-young / Xportsnews file
This 12 months turned the Korean leisure world right into a mirror of human emotion — from high-profile weddings and new births to surprising divorces, controversy-filled pregnancies and tragic farewells. What started as a 12 months of celebration quickly unfolded into one marked by irony, debate and loss, drawing intense public reactions each on-line and off.
Korean leisure has at all times been fast-moving, however this 12 months felt significantly turbulent. Throughout social media and pop-culture boards, audiences watched as celebrities skilled dramatic turning factors of their private lives that blended pleasure, grief, controversy and nostalgia.
Weddings that shocked the trade — from remarriages to long-time bachelors
One of many greatest storylines of 2025 was a wave of superstar weddings, significantly amongst stars remarrying after divorces and long-time bachelors lastly tying the knot. TV persona Lee Sang-min revealed in April that he had registered his remarriage, whereas comic Kim Jun-ho married fellow entertainer Kim Ji-min on July 13. Veteran entertainer Kim Byung-man wed his long-term associate on Sept. 20, with followers studying that the couple already shared two youngsters.
Former Sechs Kies member Eun Ji-won additionally introduced his remarriage in October, marrying once more after 13 years.
From left, Lee Sang-min, Kim Jong-kook, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a / Xportsnews, Courtesy of AM Leisure
A number of stars recognized for remaining single additionally walked down the aisle. Kim Jong-min married on April 20, and singer Kim Jong-kook shocked the trade with a wedding announcement on Sept. 5. Broadcaster Yoon Jung-soo wed former reporter Gained Jin-seo on Nov. 30. Actor Jung Woo-sung, who confronted controversy final 12 months over stories of an out-of-wedlock baby, married his associate on Aug. 5, reigniting on-line buzz.
Lengthy-term {couples} additionally took their relationships to the altar. Actor Lee Jang-woo and Cho Hye-won married on Nov. 23 after eight years of courting, whereas actors On Joo-wan and Bang Min-ah held a non-public wedding ceremony in Bali on Nov. 29. One of the crucial extensively celebrated occasions got here on Dec. 20, when top-star couple Shin Min-a and Kim Woo-bin married after a decade-long romance.
From left, Lee Soo and Lyn, Hong Jin-kyung, Clara and Jung Sung-il / Xportsnews file
Divorce headlines remind followers that not each love story lasts
Whereas some celebrated new beginnings, others introduced separations. actor Lee Si-young revealed in March that she divorced her husband after eight years of marriage. Singers Lyn and Lee Soo ended their marriage of 11 years in August, and comic Hong Jin-kyung concluded a 22-year union, shocking many.
Extra divorce information adopted within the fall. Actors Clara and Jung Sung-il ended marriages of six and 9 years, respectively. In November, actor Go Gained-hee was revealed to have separated after three years, regardless of by no means formally registering the wedding.
From left, Eric, Lee Ha-nee, Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo and Lee Si-young / Xportsnews
Births that introduced pleasure — and controversy
A number of superstar {couples} welcomed youngsters this 12 months, marking hopeful new chapters. Singer Eric and actor Na Hye-mi welcomed their second son on March 19, whereas singer Son Dam-bi and former Olympic velocity skater Lee Kyu-hyuk grew to become mother and father to a daughter on April 11. Actor Lee Ha-nee welcomed her second daughter on Aug. 24.
However not each beginning announcement was celebrated. Movie director Hong Sang-soo and actor Kim Min-hee, whose relationship started by an extramarital affair, reportedly welcomed a son in March, drawing polarized reactions. Actor Lee Si-young, following her divorce, grew to become pregnant by IVF with out her ex-husband’s consent and gave beginning to a second daughter in November, sparking moral and authorized debate. In December, “Coronary heart Sign 3” participant Website positioning Min-jae gave beginning after controversy surrounding the kid’s paternity.
These tales fueled intense dialogue throughout Korean social media communities, reflecting shifting attitudes towards household, relationships, and morality amongst youthful “MZ” era audiences of individuals of their 20s and 30s.
From left, Barbie Hsu and DJ Koo, Wheesung, Jeon Yu-seong and Lee Quickly-jae / Xportsnews
A 12 months of loss — farewells that left the nation grieving
The 12 months additionally introduced a collection of heartbreaking deaths that left followers mourning cultural icons throughout generations.
DJ Koo, a member of the legendary dance duo Clon, misplaced his spouse Barbie Hsu — a Taiwanese actor he reunited with after twenty years — on Feb. 2, following issues from pneumonia throughout a household journey to Japan. She was 48. Koo’s later look at her gravesite, visibly thinner and grieving, drew widespread sympathy.
Youthful stars additionally handed unexpectedly. Actor Kim Sae-ron died on Feb. 6 at age 25, adopted by her household elevating allegations about actor Kim Soo-hyun. Singer Wheesung handed away at dwelling on March 10, and well-liked YouTuber Daedoseogwan (Na Dong-hyun) was discovered lifeless on Sept. 6, surprising followers.
The nation additionally mentioned goodbye to towering figures of Korean popular culture. Veteran trot singer Track Dae-kwan died of a coronary heart assault on Feb. 7 at age 78. Beloved TV host Lee Sang-yong, generally known as “Popeye,” died at 81. Comic Jeon Yu-seong, a pioneer of experimental Korean comedy, died on Sept. 25 at age 76. On Nov. 25, the trade mourned legendary actor Lee Quickly-jae, a defining determine in Korean theater, tv, and movie who handed away at 91.
Their deaths marked the symbolic finish of eras that formed Korean leisure historical past.
This text from Xportsnews is customized by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
