Lee Kyu-han and Solbi, the missed connection on 'Seeking an Old Connection': "You were a woman from the start"

“You were a woman from the start.”

A remark once made by actor Lee Kyu-han to singer and broadcaster Solbi is drawing attention again following the news of their marriage. Although they failed to become a couple on a dating reality show, they nurtured their love in reality after the broadcast ended and are now becoming husband and wife. With the sudden announcement of their marriage, which came without even dating rumors, the subtle emotions and honest confessions from their past broadcast are being re-examined.

On the 15th, Solbi's agency Jian Castle announced that Solbi and Lee Kyu-han have decided to marry based on mutual trust and love. The two are scheduled to hold their wedding ceremony next April. They recently completed the meeting between the two families, and the ceremony is planned to be held privately, inviting only family, relatives, and close acquaintances. They will continue their activities in their respective fields after marriage.

Lee Kyu-han, born in 1980, and Solbi, born in 1984, have a four-year age difference. The two, who knew each other as seniors and juniors in the entertainment industry, met through the 2017 MBC variety program ‘Thinking of My Older Brother’. They met again about eight years later in July last year on the KBS Joy program ‘Seeking an Old Connection Season 3’. After reuniting after a long time, the two showed interest in each other through repeated dates, but their paths diverged at the final selection. This was because Lee Kyu-han, who had experienced a public relationship in the past, felt burdened about starting a new relationship and gave up on the final choice.

However, the connection that failed to continue on the show met a different ending in reality. As the two announced their marriage about one year after the program ended, viewers flocked to the official YouTube channel of ‘Seeking an Old Connection’ to rewatch the past broadcast. There were movements to find traces of mutual interest in the words and expressions that were overlooked at the time.

In the broadcast, Lee Kyu-han was more proactive toward Solbi than expected. Recalling the variety program they appeared on together during their first date, he confessed, “Actually, I was so disappointed back then. I was a huge fan of Solbi. I should have asked for your contact information if we had become closer, but the program ended.” Beyond a simple greeting of being glad to meet again on the show, he honestly revealed that he had been interested in Solbi even in the past.

His compliments were also unreserved. Lee Kyu-han marveled at Solbi's changed appearance, saying, “You've become so pretty seeing you after a long time.” He continued, saying he had consistently looked up videos of Solbi appearing on YouTube, stating, “I looked up videos of Solbi talking funnily. I really like people who are funny.” It was a confession that he noticed not only Solbi's appearance but also her pleasant personality and way of speaking. The regret of not being able to ask for her contact information in the past was naturally revealed during the date.

Solbi also opened her heart to Lee Kyu-han. Lee Kyu-han initially thought Solbi was someone with a strong sense of self who mainly talked rather than listening to others, but upon meeting her in person, he said he was impressed by how well she listened to his stories. To this, Solbi replied, “I originally like listening.” She then made the atmosphere between the two even sweeter by asking directly, “Since when did you feel I was a woman?”

Lee Kyu-han's answer was even more proactive than Solbi's question. He said, “You were a woman from the start,” and again emphasized that he felt great regret when they appeared on the variety program together eight years ago. He confessed that if they had even had a company dinner back then, he would have naturally asked for her contact information, and revealed that he even remembers Solbi's short bobbed hair. Although it was a story brought up only after meeting again on the broadcast, it was a part that showed he had thought of Solbi impressively for a long time.

In the final selection, Solbi expressed her feelings by choosing Lee Kyu-han, but Lee Kyu-han did not light the candle, saying he wanted to protect their precious connection. Looking only at the broadcast, their relationship seemed to have ended disappointingly, but in reality, it led to the fruit of marriage after time passed. Following the couple's marriage announcement, congratulatory reactions such as “Congratulations on your marriage,” “They looked good together on the show,” and “I knew it would turn out like this” continued online.

The two have shown that the ending of a dating reality show does not necessarily have to be the same as the ending in reality. The choice that diverged in front of the camera became the starting point of a new connection outside the camera. To viewers who remember the excitement and regret during the broadcast, the marriage of Lee Kyu-han and Solbi comes as an even more special twist.

Read the original (Korean)