Actress Lee Ji-yeon to marry 'I Am SOLO' star Yeong-cheol

Interest is surging regarding the connection between actress Lee Ji-yeon and Yeong-cheol, a participant from Season 21 of SBS Plus and ENA's 'I Am SOLO,' as they announce their marriage. The news is being received as an unexpected announcement, as the two—known to the public as an actress and a dating reality show participant, respectively—are set to tie the knot.

On the 12th, Lee announced her marriage through her SNS, sharing wedding pictorials. She personally shared that she is entering a new phase of her life, stating, "I have met a good person and am starting a new beginning together truly.""

The released pictorials captured their marriage not merely as a formal ceremony, but as a romantic narrative. Set against a backdrop of green fields and lush forests, the two stood facing each other, looking at one another with natural expressions of affection.

Lee exuded an elegant yet neat atmosphere, posing in a sleeveless dress with ribbon details and a voluminous wedding dress adorned with subtle beadwork. Yeong-cheol showed the image of a stable groom, alternating between a beige-toned suit and a black tuxedo.

Scenes different from standardized wedding pictorials also caught the eye. The two appeared in similar looks, matching jeans and white tops with scarves and sunglasses, striking playful poses. By simultaneously capturing the image of a formal wedding and the intimacy of an everyday couple, they left an impression of a relationship that is comfortable and natural.

While announcing the marriage news, Lee also expressed feelings of apology toward those around her. She asked for understanding from acquaintances she could not inform directly, saying, "It is polite to visit and greet each person, but I hesitated in case I might cause a burden, so there are people I have not yet been able to inform.""

She continued, "If you feel hurt, I hope you can understand generously," adding, "If you contact me comfortably, I will gladly and gratefully share the news with you." To those sending congratulations, she promised, "I will not forget anyone, cherish it all, and live beautifully.""

The groom-to-be, Yeong-cheol (born in 1984), also formalized the marriage by announcing via SNS recently, "In September 2026, we are having a slightly late wedding." The two are scheduled to marry this coming September.

Yeong-cheol became known to the public through his appearance on Season 21 of 'I Am SOLO,' which aired in 2024. At the time, he became a hot topic by revealing that he had worked in the pipe sales sector of the steel industry for 13 years. Although he was a non-celebrity participant, he garnered viewers' interest as his stable occupation, calm attitude, and specific values regarding marriage were highlighted during the broadcast.

In particular, the fact that Yeong-cheol chose dating, marriage, and children as the bucket list items he wished to achieve in his life is drawing renewed attention in conjunction with this news. Having spoken of dating and marriage as realistic life goals, he has now met a real partner after the broadcast and is forming a family.

As 'I Am SOLO' is a program that observes the process of non-celebrity men and women meeting on the premise of marriage, the subsequent steps of the participants have been a constant subject of interest. While there are cases where relationships during the broadcast lead to marriage, there are also many cases where participants meet new partners after the show ends and successfully marry. Yeong-cheol's case serves as an example of how the 'realistic dating' genre captured by the program can continue outside of the broadcast.

Lee is an individual who has worked as an actress and also has a history of representing Korea in the international beauty pageant 'Miss Globe.' Unlike marriage news centered around broadcasters or influencers, their union between an actress and a non-celebrity broadcast participant feels particularly unique.

The process where a dating reality program participant returns to their own life after the broadcast and achieves the realistic fruit of marriage aligns with the unique cultural context that 'I Am SOLO' has built. Because the romantic narratives consumed on the show can lead to actual life choices, the marriages of participants maintain continuous topicality even outside the program.

Above all, this marriage holds more meaning for Yeong-cheol than a simple union. This is because he has moved the first step—marriage—of the wishes for dating, marriage, and children that he personally revealed during the broadcast into reality. He has now moved beyond his broadcast history as a participant of Season 21 and is entering the next stage of life as a spouse and head of a new household.

As the two have decided to marry after a period of dating, interest continues regarding how they will live as a married couple. Beyond being the protagonists of glamorous wedding pictorials, attention is focused on their journey as they start a new family based on the paths they have built in their respective fields.