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Korean celebrities engaged in cross-border romances

July 3, 2014 - 20:14 By Chung Joo-won
Korean celebrities with international partners are taking the spotlight after the recent announcement of director Kim Tae-yong’s upcoming wedding with Chinese actress Tang Wei.

Korean movie director Kim Tae-yong and Chinese actress Tang Wei. (OSEN)


Actress Chae Rim confirmed her engagement with Chinese actor Gao Ziqi, accepting a beautiful wedding proposal on June 29. The couple plans to marry in the fall. 

Korean actress Chae Rim and Chinese actor Gao Ziqi.
Gao Ziqi proposes to Chae Rim.


Actress Bae Doo-na officially confirmed that she is dating British actor Jim Sturgess on May 20 at the Cannes International Film Festival. The couple has been together for two years.

Rumors of a romantic relationship between Bae and Sturgess had been circulating ever since the two costarred in the Wachowskis’ Hollywood blockbuster “Cloud Atlas” in 2012. Their frequent meetings stirred up rumors that the two were dating, which Bae’s former manager dismissed as groundless. After the relationship became public, Bae claimed that the denial came from the former manager and not herself. 

Bae Doo-na (left), the star of filmmaker July Jung’s “A Girl at My Door,” and Jim Sturgess walk together at the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival on Monday. (Yonhap)


MMA fighter and entertainer Choo Sung-hoon, also known by his Japanese name Yoshihiro Akiyama, married Japanese fashion model Shiho Yano in March 2009. The third generation Korean-Japanese celebrity began dating the Japanese model in January 2007. The couple and their starlet daughter Choo Sa-rang have gained fast popularity through KBS 2TV reality show “Superman Is Back.”

MMA fighter and entertainer Choo Sung-hoon, Japanese fashion model Shiho Yano and their starlet daughter Choo Sa-rang appear on KBS 2TV reality show "Superman Is Back." (KBS)
MMA fighter and entertainer Choo Sung-hoon and his starlet daughter Choo Sa-rang appear on KBS 2TV reality show "Superman Is Back." (KBS)


Similarly, singer and entertainer Kim Jung-min married former J-pop singer and third-generation Korean-Japanese Rumiko Tani on Oct. 21, 2006. The couple, 12 years apart in age, have three sons. Kim’s family found its own stardom after appearing on SBS reality show “Oh! My Baby” since May 7 this year. 

The picture shows singer-entertainer Kim Jung-min and former J-pop singer Rumiko Tani.
Rumiko Tani and her starlet son Damyool appear on SBS reality show “Oh! My Baby.” (SBS)


By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)