EXchange 3's Kong Sang-jeong and Seo Min-hyeong marry

Former lovers who reunited on a dating reality program have finally tied the knot in real life. Kong Sang-jeong, a former national short track speed skater, and surgeon Seo Min-hyeong, who appeared on 'EXchange 3', held a wedding ceremony, marking the first marriage among couples in the history of the TVING 'EXchange' series.

Kong and Seo officially became husband and wife after holding a wedding ceremony at an undisclosed location on the 20th. It is reported that cast members who appeared together on 'EXchange 3', including Lee Seo-gyeong, Lee Ju-won, Choi Chang-jin, and Lee Yu-gyeong, along with the production staff, attended the ceremony to celebrate the couple's new beginning.

The wedding drew significant interest as it provided a glimpse into the ongoing relationships between the cast members even after the program ended. Some cast members shared photos of the wedding on their SNS to congratulate Kong and Seo on their marriage.

The connection between the two was different from the starting point of typical dating variety shows. Having already been past lovers, the two met again on 'EXchange 3', which aired in 2024, to face each other's emotions and their past relationship, eventually becoming a final couple through the program.

The core setting of 'EXchange' lies in ex-lovers living in the same space and confirming their feelings between new love and past love. The format observes the emotional changes of the participants, as they do not merely end their past relationships but sometimes reveal a desire to return to them.

In that sense, the marriage of Kong and Seo is meaningful because their narrative did not end with the conclusion of the broadcast but continued into a new phase in reality. It is particularly symbolic as it is the first case in the entire 'EXchange' series to lead to actual marriage.

Kong has a distinct background as a sports star. She made a name for herself as a national athlete by winning a gold medal in the women's 3000m relay at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and since retiring from active competition, she has continued her career in a new field, working as a starter referee responsible for race management and officiating.

Seo also drew attention during his appearance on the show due to his professional background as a doctor. As it was revealed that he is currently working as a surgical specialist at a university hospital, the unique combination of a former national athlete and a medical professional also attracted interest.

The news of their marriage also catches the eye because the temporary buzz created through the program led to the continuation of an actual relationship. While marriages of dating show participants have occurred steadily, this is the first time within the 'EXchange' series that two former lovers met on the program, became a final couple, and then proceeded to actual marriage.

Kong previously announced the marriage news herself last April, revealing that their relationship had not always been smooth. At the time, she shared, "We came this far through fighting, making up, and going through ups and downs," stating that their decision to marry was not a romance simply manufactured for the broadcast, but a decision made after undergoing realistic processes of conflict and reconciliation.

She also revealed the specific process leading to the marriage. According to Kong, the serious wedding preparations began when Seo secretly booked the wedding venue last winter. After spending a significant amount of time together to strengthen their relationship following their reunion, they moved toward the realistic choice of marriage.

Dating variety shows have long struggled with the question of the "boundary between reality and broadcasting." Questions have repeatedly been raised about whether the participants' emotions are real or staged for the show, and how the relationships of the participants continue after the program ends has been a consistent topic of interest.

In that sense, the marriage of Kong and Seo holds a meaning beyond just another trending topic created by the program 'EXchange'. This is because the reunion that began within the limited time and space of a broadcast led to a relationship in real life and ultimately resulted in the long-term choice of marriage, making it the most realistic epilogue a dating reality show can show.

Of course, marriage is a personal choice independent of the success of the program. However, the fact that the relationship the viewers watched through the screen has culminated in marriage after several years is expected to remain a special moment for viewers who remember 'EXchange 3'.

Starting by meeting a past lover, confirming each other's feelings, and continuing their relationship after the show ended, Kong and Seo have finally become a married couple. In 'EXchange', where many stories of parting and reunion unfolded, their conclusion was not a 'transfer' but a 'settlement.'