Why Yeon Jung-hoon Married Before Military Service

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Korean Reading Practice

Why Yeon Jung-hoon Married Before Military Service

Date: July 31, 2026

Introduction

This article traces the personal history of actor Yeon Jung-hoon and actress Han Ga-in, from their first meeting through their marriage and family life. The narrative is framed around a recent television appearance in which Yeon Jung-hoon reflects on the early circumstances of his marriage and his philosophy on family responsibility. The passage explores how their relationship developed and evolved over two decades.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
드라마 deurama television drama 2003년 드라마 '노란손수건'에서 만났다.They met in the 2003 drama "Yellow Handkerchief."
결혼하다 gyeolhonhada to marry 그들은 2005년에 결혼했다.They married in 2005.
군 입대 gun ibdae military enlistment 군 입대가 임박했다고 했다.It was stated that military enlistment was approaching.
부모 bumo parents 부모님이 빨리 결혼하기를 원했다.The parents wanted them to marry quickly.
예능 프로그램 yenung peurogeuraem variety program 예능 프로그램에 출연했다.He appeared on a variety program.
진행자 jinhaengjа host; presenter 진행자가 질문을 던졌다.The host posed a question.
부부 갈등 bubu galdung marital conflict 부부 갈등에 대해 물었다.He was asked about marital conflict.
책임지다 chaekimjida to take responsibility for 내가 책임지겠다고 했다.I said I would take responsibility for her.
ttal daughter 첫 딸을 낳았다.They had their first daughter.
아들 adeul son 둘째 아들을 낳았다.They had their second son.
조기 결혼 jogi gyeolhon early marriage 왜 그렇게 조기에 결혼했는가?Why did he marry so early?
책임감 chaekimgam sense of responsibility 그의 책임감이 드러났다.His sense of responsibility was revealed.

Reading Text

배우 연정훈과 배우 한가인은 2003년 드라마 '노란손수건'을 통해 처음 만나게 되었으며, 이후 그들의 인연은 결혼으로 이어지게 되었다.

Actor Yeon Jung-hoon and actress Han Ga-in first met through the 2003 drama "Yellow Handkerchief," and their relationship eventually led to marriage.

연정훈이 스물여덟 살이고 한가인이 스물네 살이던 2005년에 두 사람은 결혼식을 올렸다.

In 2005, when Yeon Jung-hoon was 28 years old and Han Ga-in was 24 years old, the couple held their wedding ceremony.

한가인은 이전에 출연한 예능 프로그램에서 당시 연정훈의 군 입대가 임박했으며 그의 부모님이 빨리 결혼하기를 원했다고 밝혔다.

On a variety program she appeared on previously, Han Ga-in revealed that Yeon Jung-hoon's military enlistment was approaching at that time, and that his parents wanted them to marry quickly.

이와 관련하여 연정훈은 최근 MBN과 채널S에서 방송되는 '전현무계획4'에 게스트로 출연하였고, 진행자 전현무가 그에게 왜 그렇게 조기에 결혼하게 되었는지를 물었다.

In connection with this, Yeon Jung-hoon recently appeared as a guest on the variety program "Jeon Hyun-moo's Plan 4," broadcast on MBN and Channel S, where host Jeon Hyun-moo asked him why he married so early.

부부 갈등에 관한 질문을 받은 연정훈은 "남한테는 이길 수 있다. 그런데 내가 책임지겠다고 데려온 사람인데…"라고 답했으며, 이는 그가 가족에 대해 얼마나 깊은 책임감을 지니고 있는지를 드러내는 발언이었다.

When asked about marital conflicts, Yeon Jung-hoon responded: "I can win against him. But she is someone I said I would take responsibility for…," a remark that revealed the depth of responsibility he feels toward his family.

결혼 이후 11년이 지난 후 첫 딸을 낳았으며, 2019년에는 둘째 아들을 낳아 가정을 이루게 되었다.

Eleven years after marriage, they had their first daughter, and in 2019 they had their second son, establishing their family.

Grammar Points

-을/를 통해(서) through / via

Attached to a noun to mean 'through' or 'via'. Used to express the means or medium by which something happens.

📖 배우 연정훈과 배우 한가인은 2003년 드라마 '노란손수건'을 통해 처음 만나게 되었으며, 이후 그들의 인연은 결혼으로 이어지게 되었다. Actors Yeon Jung-hoon and Han Ga-in first met through the 2003 drama 'Yellow Handkerchief', and their connection later led to marriage.

✏️ 저는 인터넷을 통해 한국어를 배웠어요. I learned Korean through the internet.

얼마나 -(으)ㄴ/는지 how (much / very)

Used with '얼마나' to express 'how much/deeply' in an embedded clause, often conveying emphasis or exclamation about the degree of something.

📖 이는 그가 가족에 대해 얼마나 깊은 책임감을 지니고 있는지를 드러내는 발언이었다. This was a remark that revealed how deep a sense of responsibility he holds toward his family.

✏️ 그 영화가 얼마나 슬픈지 보고 나서 알았어요. I realized how sad that movie was after watching it.

Cultural Notes

In Korean culture, military service is a significant rite of passage for men, typically undertaken in their mid-to-late twenties, and it remains a major life milestone that shapes personal and family decisions. The pressure for couples to marry before the man's enlistment reflects traditional Korean family values that prioritize establishing a household and securing continuity before military obligations. Additionally, the concept of *chaekimgam* (책임감—sense of responsibility) is deeply valued in Korean society and is often cited as a measure of a person's character and maturity, particularly in the context of family relationships and marriage.

Topics are inspired by current events in Korea. All lessons are original learning content written by Learn Korean Today.
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

How did Yeon Jung-hoon and Han Ga-in first meet, and in what year did they marry?

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Q2

According to Han Ga-in's previous statement, what circumstance influenced the timing of their marriage in 2005?

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Q3

On which television program did Yeon Jung-hoon recently appear as a guest, and what question did the host ask him?

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Q4

What did Yeon Jung-hoon say about marital conflicts, and what does his response suggest about his character?

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Q5

How many children do Yeon Jung-hoon and Han Ga-in have, and when was their second child born?

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