Bae Yong-joon is no longer a bachelor

First-generation Hallyu star marries actress Park Soo-jin in private wedding 

Bae Yong-joon, the sweet guy from “Winter Sonata” who stole the hearts of many Japanese housewives in the early 2000s, has married a lesser-known actress 13 years his junior in a private nuptial in Seoul on Monday. 

The wedding between Bae and Park Soo-jin took place at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Walkerhill hotel in Seoul, with only family and close friends in attendance.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the bridegroom they affectionately called “Yonsama,” or “Emperor Yon,” about a hundred die-hard fans of Bae from Japan stood in drizzling rain in front of the hotel.

Park Jin-young, CEO of JYP Entertainment, and singers The One and Shin Yong-jae performed the epithalamium for the high-profile yet closed wedding.

The couple is rumored to make a trip down to the south coast of Korea a day after the wedding for their honeymoon, but details remain unknown.

Hours before the wedding, Bae posted a wedding photo to his Instagram, saying: “My heart is nervous and fluttering. (I seek) your blessings and concerns for me as my family always gives me strength. I am sorry I cannot share this moment with you.” 

Bae, 43, is best known for his role in the 2002 hit drama “Winter Sonata,” which heralded the beginning of Korean Wave across Asia. His last appearance in TV drama was 2007’s “Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi (The Legend),” as in recent years he has become more known as the largest shareholder of Keyeast Entertainment, a local talent management firm.

Bae‘s equity holdings in this firm alone -- barring real estate and other assets -- is priced at 107 billion won ($91.6 million) as of Monday.

The bride is a 30-year-old actress under Bae’s company who debuted in 2002 as a singer in the group Sugar. She began an acting career after the group disbanded in 2006 and has appeared in a number of TV dramas in title or supporting roles. Until recently she was an emcee for TV program “Tasty Road,” which introduces trendy restaurants in Seoul.

The two began dating in February and confirmed the marriage plans in May. 

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com) & news reports