T-ara's Hyomin reveals reason for marriage: 'I didn't want to give him to someone else'

Hyomin, a former member of T-ara, revealed the special reason why she—someone who never gave much thought to marriage—decided to marry a financier 10 years her senior. She explained that while there wasn't an intense, fateful event during their first meeting, the concept of marriage naturally entered her mind as they conversed and built a relationship.

On the 15th, Hyomin appeared as a guest on Ko So Young's YouTube channel and spoke candidly about the journey from the moment she first met her husband to her decision to marry.

The two met at a birthday gathering for an acquaintance. At the time, her husband arrived a little late, and the seat next to Hyomin happened to be empty. As he sat down, he offered an apology saying, "I'm sorry I'm late," and Hyomin recalled feeling an unexpected affinity for his voice.

"I didn't look at him closely, just a quick glance, but I had a good feeling," she said. Rather than falling in love with his looks at first sight, a subtle attraction formed by his tone, his voice, and his first impression served as the starting point for the relationship.

When Ko So Young jokingly asked, "He does have visuals worth looking at once," Hyomin laughed and drew a line, saying, "It's not quite that much." She explained that natural conversation and the atmosphere, rather than physical appearance, remained as the primary memory of their first meeting.

Hyomin also revealed that she had guessed her husband's age was only about four to five years older than hers at the time. In the process of their natural conversation, she did not know his actual age. However, she later discovered there was a 10-year age gap.

As Ko So Young expressed surprise, saying, "He really takes good care of himself," Hyomin laughed while recalling the situation. Although the age gap was significant, it seems the number did not act as a decisive barrier to the relationship from the beginning.

A more interesting aspect is that Hyomin had no strong intention of marriage to begin with.

"To be honest, I didn't have much thought of marriage," Hyomin said. Having been active in the entertainment industry for a long time, she maintained a strong sense of independence regarding her life and career, and she did not view marriage as a mandatory life stage.

The change in her thinking occurred after meeting her husband.

Hyomin recalled that after meeting him, "those words [marriage] started to come up," and around the time they had been dating for about six months, she told a friend during a phone call, "I think that kind of conversation is going to come up, what should I do?"

This indicates she began to realize her feelings toward marriage were shifting. It implies it wasn't just about starting a relationship, but rather considering the possibility of that relationship developing into a long-term life partnership.

The part where Hyomin explained her decision to marry was even more direct. She ultimately said, "I hated the idea of giving him to someone else, so I thought, 'Ah, I'm going to get married.'"

While it may sound like a joke, it captures the deep attachment Hyomin felt toward her partner. Rather than a desire for the institution of marriage itself, the feeling of "I don't want to lose this person" came first, which then led to the decision to marry.

This is also interesting in that modern views on dating and marriage do not necessarily follow a traditional order. It is a reverse choice where, rather than seeking a partner because one has reached a certain age, one recognizes the necessity of marriage while forming a relationship with a specific person.

Hyomin married the financier 10 years her senior last April. Her husband is known to be serving as a managing director at the Korean office of a global private equity fund (PEF) after graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in Industrial Engineering.

Their marriage also drew attention because Hyomin is a prominent figure who has been active in the entertainment industry for a long time. Hyomin debuted as a member of T-ara in 2009 and has been active both domestically and internationally through various hit songs such as "Lies," "TTL," "Bo Peep Bo Peep," "Roly-Poly," and "I Go Crazy Because of You."

T-ara established itself as one of the central pillars of the girl group market from the late 2000s to the early 2010s, securing a significant fandom based on unique concepts and strong public appeal. Hyomin also built her own career by expanding her work as a solo singer, actress, and broadcaster.

In particular, the marriage of a celebrity is often received by the public as more than just a private matter. When a star who has been active under the public eye for a long time shifts their life direction through a personal relationship, it is often perceived by fans as a major turning point in their career.

In Hyomin's case, her story differs from the narrative of "meeting someone because she wanted to marry." The core is that a person who did not place great importance on marriage changed her perspective through a continuous relationship with one specific person.

Their first meeting was not a dramatic cinematic scene. It involved her husband's apology for being late, an empty seat, natural conversation, and an unexpected age gap—all of which gradually moved Hyomin's emotions.

Ultimately, what drove the decision to marry was not age, occupation, or economic status, but the feeling—as Hyomin put it—that he was someone she "didn't want to give to someone else." The attachment to a specific person created the choice of marriage, rather than the concept of marriage existing first.

During the broadcast, Hyomin discussed her relationship with her husband in a comfortable and lighthearted manner. For a star who has long kept her professional and personal lives separate, this confession highlights how a person's values can transform through a meaningful relationship.