BY JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ
When fairytales come true, and the characters have leapt from storybooks and movie sets into real life, a hundred million hearts leap as well. Just like Korean actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, who gave in real life both the new beginning and the happy ending their fans were hoping for.
The Korean hit romance series Crash Landing on You, which crash-landed on homes during the first months of the pandemic, was like a fairytale, indeed. It distracted many from real-life woes; it had princes, princesses and villains, and most of all, a happy ending.
Thus, when CLOY’s lead stars Hyun Bin (as North Korean army officer Ri Jeong Hyeok) and Son Ye-jin (as the South Korean heiress who captured Capt. Ri’s heart) melted into each other’s arms in real life as in reel, the world let out a collective gush. “Oh my heart!” read many a reaction on social media.
Even Vice President Leni Robredo, who earlier revealed to lifestyle media that she is a CLOY fan, congratulated the BinJin couple in a Facebook post the day after the wedding. She said among the things she missed was, “The wedding of Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. (This was followed by two pink-heart emojis.) Sobrang good vibes. Congratulations.”
The much-awaited BinJin wedding at the Aston House of the Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul was hailed as the “Wedding of the Century” by Asian media. It was also dubbed “Crash Landing on You Episode 17.” The hit series, you see, had ended on Episode 16, with many fans clamoring for a sequel.
Well, they got what they wanted. On March 31, in a garden bedecked with spring flowers, canopies and chandeliers fit for a royal wedding, Hyun Bin and Ye-jin were wed.
Hyun, handsome in his black tuxedo, looking relaxed and very fit, first walked down the aisle, which overlooked the Han River, to the tune of “I was born to love you,” originally sung by the late Freddie Mercury. He took a deep breath as he waited under the flower-festooned canopy that served as the altar and applauded as his bride walked down the aisle to meet him. At one point, in a video taken probably by a guest, she seemed to wipe away a tear.
The elegant bride was radiant in her lacy off-shoulder Mira Zwillinger gown, her hair in an updo, a crown of lavender and white flowers holding up a veil that cascaded down her back. On the arm of her father, she glided down the aisle to the tune of “Can’t help falling in love” by Kina Grannis (but originally sung by Elvis Presley), as sung in the wedding scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians.
Then Hyun Bin bowed to Ye-jin’s father, looked into his bride’s eyes before leaning closer to her as she whispered something to him. Then he took her hand to happily-ever-after.
Snippets of their vows were captured on video.
She said with a girlish giggle: “Jagiya (“Babe” in Korean), hello. It’s finally our wedding day. I still cannot believe it.”
He said: “I think thankfully of the moments of us getting to know and understanding each other, enjoying each moment and laughing through it together.”
Then they put rings on each other’s fingers — with Hyun Bin getting it right this time, unlike during their exchange of couple’s rings in CLOY.
‘Kilig’
The following day, photos from their pre-wedding photo shoot, apparently a tradition in South Korea, were splashed on the front pages of the Philippines’ leading broadsheets. In one photo, released by the couple’s respective agencies, the bride was wearing an off-shoulder gown by Vera Wang and in the other, a sleeveless gown with dainty flowerettes by Elie Saab.
Precisely because of what’s happening in the world, after two lockdown years due to the coronavirus pandemic that upended our lives, the invasion of Ukraine and skyrocketing fuel prices, those photos of a happy Hyun Bin and Ye-jin belonged to no less than the front pages. They were feel-good photos that sparked hope and provided an endorphin-filled respite for many.
Many credit CLOY for keeping them sane with all those happy feelings it generated and its “kilig” ending in the first weeks of the pandemic, making the lockdown bearable and actually enjoyable.
Behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of CLOY and the undeniable chemistry of the so-called “RiRi” couple, the alleged holding hands under the table, made many wonder if the cross-border romance onscreen had become a cross-reel romance as well.
In June 2020, both appeared together at the Baeksang Awards. At first glance, Hyun Bin and Ye-jin were not affectionate at all during the ceremony — even if they were apparently in a relationship already at the time —but playbacks show subtle hints that they were, indeed, a couple. But then, we all know how screen loveteams can be promoted and exploited, so we dared not hope.
On New Year’s Day 2021, the couple, also called “BinJin” by their fans (which Hyun Bin and Ye-jin apparently liked, because they had “BinJin” embroidered on a miniature bridal veil that was part of their wedding invitation) confirmed they were, indeed, dating.
In an Instagram post translated by Soompi right after both their agencies confirmed she and HB were dating, Son Ye-jin said: “I’m thankful to have been able to meet a good person, and I’ll work hard to tend [to the relationship] with care…”
After the fireworks from Dispatch, Hyun Bin’s agency, VAST Entertainment, said in a statement: “Actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin met through their projects, and after the end of their drama, their positive feelings towards one another developed into a romantic relationship.
“We ask that you look warmly upon their relationship and cheer them on in the future,” it added.
For its part, Ye-jin’s agency, MS Team Entertainment, said: “The two of them got to know each other through their acting projects, and after the end of their drama, they developed an interest in each other and ended up dating.”
Dispatch also reported that Hyun Bin and Ye-jin developed feelings for each other back in March 2020, after the airing of CLOY. They reportedly continued to meet in get-togethers with the show’s cast. The two also reportedly bonded over their common interest in golf.
Shortly after their announcement, BinJin appeared in a TV commercial for Smart Communications, their first appearance together as a couple. In one scene in the TV ad, Hyun Bin asks Ye-jin, “Do you think it’s possible?” And she answers, “I do.”
“We are very happy to be a part of their journey as a couple,” says Jane Jimenez-Basas, Smart senior vice president and head of consumer wireless business, when asked to comment about the BinJin wedding. “We are the only brand that they’ve trusted and worked with as a couple. That trust is something that we cherish. In fact, we initially got them as individual endorsers but over time we created a couple campaign that they wholeheartedly embraced… We wish them a lifetime of happiness.”
(Incidentally, the OST of the Smart ad featured the song “Inevitable” by Ben & Ben.)
‘Another step together’
And in February this year, the news fans (quite a legion) were waiting for, hoping for, arrived. In separate announcements via Instagram, Hyun Bin and Ye-jin announced the good, nay, the great news. They were tying the knot. The happy ending of CLOY was actually a beginning.
Instead of a photo showing their faces, Hyun Bin posted a photo of them holding hands tightly, in a screenshot from one of the final scenes from CLOY. It was symbolic, because he was illustrating the bond between them, and how they hoped to spend the rest of their lives together.
Here is one translation of his handwritten profession/confession, by Pinkvilla:
“Hello, this is Hyun Bin. Are you all keeping well? I wrote this because I wanted to relay the most important decision of my life, first, to the fans who cared for me, who was lacking in many ways, and gave me a lot of interest and love. I am sure some of you can guess, right? Yes. I’m going to take the important decision of marriage and step carefully in the second act of my life. I have made a promise with the one who always makes me smile. To walk with her together in the future. Jeong Hyeok and Se-ri, who were together in the [series], are going to take another step together. I think you will happily support our first step with the warm and affectionate gaze you have been looking at us upon, so far. I hope everyone is healthy and happy until the day we can meet and say hello.”
Ye-jin for her part, was equally discreet, posting a photo of a miniature wedding dress on a hanger. It wasn’t an in-your-face announcement from her either.
She wrote in both Korean and English, complete with emojis, at that:
“I thought long and hard about how to share this story because it’s an important one. I found someone to spend the rest of my life with. Yes… it’s him. Boy meets girl, recognizes each other in the crowd, promises to build a future together… I couldn’t imagine! It happened so naturally… But, isn’t that destiny?
“Just being with him, I feel warm and protected. Please help us celebrate the beginning of our future. And to my dearest fans, I have received unconditional love and for a long time now, I thought, there’s no way to repay it. Please know that I’m infinitely grateful and I also wish you all happiness!”
Ye-jin’s agency also released a statement last Feb. 10: “Hello. This is MS Team Entertainment. We are informing you about the marriage announcement regarding Son Ye-jin that was revealed today. As was announced on social media, Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin have made a promise to live their lives in the future as partners. The two of them, who have been dating with the warm support and attention of many, plan to have their wedding ceremony in March somewhere in Seoul. Due to the pandemic, seeing as it is a difficult time for everyone, they will have a private ceremony with only the parents and acquaintances from both sides. We ask for your generous understanding about this. We hope that you will send blessings and support for the couple’s future as they make a special and precious start in life and we will work hard so that you can see better sides of her, in order to repay the love you have sent Son Ye-jin.”
“Best news this year!” gushed grief coach Cathy Babao in her social media account, after the wedding announcement.
“I am sooooo kilig!” designer Len Cabili added. My niece Trish Sotto said, “I am crying! Am hyperventilating!”
Dr. Theresa Yu, a psychiatrist who belongs to a group called K-Drama Mama Docs (which is composed of 180 accomplished doctors), told me: “(It’s) a fairy tale come true. Someone said it is our version of the royal wedding. Truly, everyone is happy for the couple.”
Why all this joy and buzz on the BinJin wedding? “It shows that fairy-tale weddings are possible,” says Dr. Yu.
Inevitable, indeed.
