Singer Yoo Hyun-sang and Swimmer Choi Yoon-hee Share Their Love Story Amidst Family Opposition

On December 23, 2024, the couple Yoo Hyun-sang (유현상), a singer, and Choi Yoon-hee (최윤희), a former swimmer, opened up about their challenging marriage on the variety show 'Four-Person Dining Table' (4인용 식탁) aired on Channel A. They were joined by close friends Kim Hak-rae (김학래) and Lim Mi-sook (임미숙) for a heartfelt discussion.

Yoo Hyun-sang, who spent 15 years as a 'goose couple' with his wife in the U.S. while she raised their two children, expressed his desire to create special moments for her, saying, "I’ve never seen my wife enjoy time with friends, so I wanted to make this occasion memorable." Throughout the meal, he tenderly served her food, showcasing his affection.

The couple, who overcame a 13-year age gap to marry, shared insights about their relationship. Choi Yoon-hee humorously noted, "When we talk about the past, it doesn’t resonate with me. When the kids complain about food, my husband reminisces about how three steamed potatoes and coarse salt were enough back in his day."

Choi Yoon-hee, a celebrated swimmer known as 'the Mermaid of Asia,' won five gold medals at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. She began swimming at the age of five and retired in her late teens, recalling, "Back then, I was considered old, even called a 'grandma swimmer.'" After retiring, she became the president of the Korean Women’s Sports Association and was appointed as the Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The couple still shares a deep bond, with Yoo Hyun-sang stating, "It feels like we are still dating. We hold hands when we walk."

Reflecting on their first meeting, Choi Yoon-hee shared, "After retiring, I worked in broadcasting. I met my husband on the stairs of KBS. Back then, there were only two broadcasting stations, and I happened to run into him among many people. We became close after seeing each other socially. He even said it was fate when I told him I saw him in a dream, suggesting we get married."

Despite their love, they faced opposition from Choi Yoon-hee's family. Yoo Hyun-sang revealed, "Even after we got married, they didn’t acknowledge me."

Choi Yoon-hee recounted, "I often came home late, which made my family suspicious, so they waited for me outside. I was even restricted from going out, but I would sneak out to have dinner with my husband. He would come just to see me for ten minutes. We decided to marry if our feelings remained unchanged."

The couple had a secret wedding ceremony at a temple, which was also the site of singer Cho Yong-pil's (조용필) wedding. They arranged the ceremony discreetly, with a journalist covering it, but they humorously noted that they still haven't received the promised photos from the event.

Yoo Hyun-sang expressed his lingering regret about not being able to prepare a proper wedding outfit and veil for his wife, highlighting his ongoing affection and remorse towards her.