Korean celebrity marriages between 2020 and 2025 showed a clear shift in trend. Instead of K-stars marrying “foreign tycoons” from countries like Thailand or China (a common headline in earlier years), recent reports focus on celebrities marrying Korean-American businessmen or non-celebrity elites with global backgrounds.
Below is an updated look at the most-talked-about names from 2020–2025, based on verified marriage announcements.
Quick Trend (2020–2025): “Foreign Husband” Often Means Korean-American or Global Business
In recent years, “foreign” in entertainment headlines often refers to:
- Korean-American businessmen (U.S. citizenship or U.S.-based careers).
- Non-celebrity elite professionals (finance, investment, corporate executives).
- Privacy-protected spouses (few details officially confirmed).
This is why many stories feel “international,” even when the spouse is ethnically Korean.
1) Honey Lee (Lee Ha-nee) — Married a Korean-American Office Worker/Elite (2021)
- Marriage date: December 21, 2021
- Spouse: Non-celebrity corporate employee (Korean-American)
- Children: A daughter (born June 2022)
Honey Lee’s agency announced her marriage in December 2021, stating she met a “precious person” and the couple decided to become lifelong partners.
The Reality of Her Husband: Unlike rumors of scandals, her husband is known to be a high-ranking employee or executive at a company, rather than a controversial tycoon. Reports indicate he is a Korean-American office worker with a solid professional background. Honey Lee has kept his identity private to respect his non-celebrity status. The couple remains happily married, focusing on parenting their daughter born in 2022.
Why she fits the conversation: Her husband fits the “elite global background” trend—typically described as capable and financially stable, often with ties to the U.S., which aligns with the modern definition of “marrying well” in the industry.
2) Ayumi (Iconiq / Lee Ayumi) — Married Businessman Kwon Ki-beom (2022)
- Marriage date: October 30, 2022
- Spouse: Kwon Ki-beom (Packaging Manufacturing Businessman)
- Children: First child (daughter) born June 2024
Ayumi is well-known for her cross-border career (Korea and Japan). In 2022, she married Kwon Ki-beom. While Ayumi herself is the one with the “foreign” (Korean-Japanese) background, the marriage garnered attention for the couple’s financial stability.
The Reality: Kwon Ki-beom is a domestic businessman running a packaging manufacturing company. The couple appeared on the reality show Same Bed, Different Dreams 2, where they showcased their life. Ayumi gave birth to a healthy daughter in June 2024.
3) Ailee — A “Global” Diva Marrying a Businessman (2025)
- Marriage: Wedding confirmed for April 20, 2025
- Spouse: Choi Si-hoon (Actor-turned-Businessman)
- Business: Runs an F&B (Food & Beverage) business in Seoul
Ailee, who is Korean-American (U.S.-born), announced her marriage to Choi Si-hoon. While he is not a “foreign tycoon,” he fits the trend of celebrities marrying entrepreneurs.
The Reality: Choi Si-hoon is known globally for his appearance on the Netflix hit Single’s Inferno. Since leaving the entertainment spotlight, he has transitioned into business, successfully running a lounge bar/restaurant in Hongdae. This marriage represents the union of a top-tier vocalist and a young entrepreneur.
4) Go Sung-hee — Private Wedding to a Non-Celebrity Businessman (2022)
- Marriage date: November 2022
- Spouse: Non-celebrity businessman
- Details: Kept private
Actress Go Sung-hee (known for Suits and Gaus Electronics) married a non-celebrity businessman in a private ceremony.
Why she fits the conversation: Her marriage is a prime example of the “quiet elite” trend. Without revealing his face or net worth, the scale of the wedding and the “businessman” title led to standard media framing of a stable, wealthy union.
Notable Mentions (Corrections on Status)
These names are often brought up in “wealthy foreign husband” discussions. Here is the verified status of their marriages as of early 2026:
- Clara Lee — Married to Investor Samuel Hwang (2019)
- Status: Happily Married.
- Correction: Unlike some rumors, Clara is not divorced. She married Korean-American investor/entrepreneur Samuel Hwang in 2019. She continues to live a luxurious lifestyle, frequently posting updates, and her husband remains a prominent figure in the startup/investment sector (WeWork Labs, NNP).
- Claudia Kim (Soo Hyun) — Married Matthew Shampine (2019–2024)
- Status: Divorced.
- Correction: Claudia Kim married Korean-American businessman Matthew Shampine (Cha Min-geun), the former General Manager of WeWork Korea, in 2019. However, the couple officially announced their divorce in September 2024 after five years of marriage.
- Shin Joo-ah — Married Thai Tycoon Sarawut Rachanakul (2014–Present)
- Status: Married.
- Context: She remains the classic example of the “Foreign Tycoon” marriage. She lives in Thailand and frequently shares glimpses of her lavish life on social media.
