We kickstarted 2020 with Crash Landing On You and in 2021, we dove into the year with the happy news of Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin dating officially. In 2022, we’re finally rewarded with news of the two getting engaged!
While the drama was still airing, many had wished that the two would date for real and now, their wish has finally been granted. For those who are wondering how and when the couple started dating, we’ve done up a timeline so you can find out exactly when your Ri-Ri K-drama ship first started sailing.
Image credit: @yejinhand
While Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin sat beside each other in 2014, during the International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) where they were both awarded the “Producers’ Choice Awards”, it was only in 2017 when they officially worked together.
In 2017, the two were casted in the action-thriller movie The Negotiation (2018). Son Ye-jin played Ha Chae-yoon, a crisis negotiator inspector, while Hyun Bin played Min Tae-gu, a kidnapper. Pre-production began on 17th June 2017, which marked their 1st official meeting.
Image credit: Vogue Korea
In August 2018, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin also modelled for Vogue Korea, where they pulled off a chic couple look in a monochromatic photoshoot.
On 19th September 2018, The Negotiation finally premiered in movie theatres. Although the two only filmed one scene together for the movie, it was enough to make them close friends.
Image credit: IMDb
After the film premiered, Hyun Bin made frequent appearances on Son Ye-jin’s Instagram account, leading to their 1st round of dating rumours.
Image adapted from: @yejinhand and @yejinhand
Many of her Instagram posts with him had cute couple filters, which made fans suspicious of their “friendship”. They even celebrated Hyun Bin’s birthday on 25th September 2018, while they were actively promoting their newly released film.
Image adapted from: @yejinhand and @yejinhand
Image adapted from: @yejinhand
Shortly after the dating rumours were denied by both agencies in late 2018, the couple was caught in another round of rumours.
Hyun Bin & Son Ye-jin at a supermarket in the U.S.
Image credit: @misakichidayo
In January 2019, dating rumours of the two sparked after they were caught on camera going grocery shopping together in the United States. Both of them donned caps and dark outfits but could not escape hawk-eyed fans.
Hyun Bin & Son Ye-jin at a supermarket in the U.S.
Image adapted from: @misakichidayo
Although their agencies did not deny the possibility of Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin being in the U.S. at the same time, they strongly denied any romantic relationships between them.
Image adapted from: @yejinhand
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin officially reunited half a year later for the hit drama Crash Landing On You. The first script reading took place on 31st July 2019, while filming began in late August, starting with the scenes shot in Switzerland.
Image credit: tvN
Crash Landing On You is a romance drama about Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a rich heiress from South Korea, who gets swept away in a storm while paragliding and crash lands into the life of a North Korean elite officer, Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin).
Image credit: tvN
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s strong chemistry during the drama and in behind-the-scenes clips once again ignited their dating rumours.
One particular clip of the duo turned controversial because they looked like they were holding hands under the table.
Brightened screenshot from a Crash Landing On You behind-the-scenes clip
Image adapted from: Naver TV
The last episode of Crash Landing On You aired on 16th February 2020 and had a record-high average nationwide viewership rating of 21.68%, surpassing Goblin’s record of 18.68%.
Image credit: tvN
After the filming for the drama ended, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin went their separate ways – but not for long.
Image credit: Vogue Korea
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s exactly what happened to Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. Korean news sources reported that it was the time the two spent apart from each other after their drama that made them realise how much they missed each other’s company.
On 1st January 2021, South Korean tabloid Dispatch published an article about the couple’s romantic relationship, including photos of Son Ye-jin getting into Hyun Bin’s car after a golfing session. The couple is said to share the same love for golf and would play together on a course in Gangwon province whenever they could.
Image credit: @koreadispatch
On that very same day, both agencies confirmed that Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin developed romantic feelings for each other after working together for Crash Landing On You, and have been dating since March 2020.
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards
Image credit: 일간스포츠
This also means that the two were already an item at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, held on 5th June 2020. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin both received the “Tiktok Popularity Award”, following the success of Crash Landing On You.
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards
Image adapted from: 일간스포츠
Even though they were seated 1m apart due to safe distancing measures, it didn’t deter Son Ye-jin from adorably sneaking glances at her beau during the awards ceremony.
Screenshot of Son Ye-jin’s Instagram post confirming the relationship
Image adapted from: @yejinhand
Son Ye-jin had also taken to Instagram to update her fans on her relationship status. She uploaded a beautiful flower arrangement along with a heartfelt message telling fans that she is “thankful to have met a good person” and that she will work hard on the relationship.
Here’s the full translation to her Instagram post:
“The new year is here. For the first time, I’m writing about something personal instead of work. I wonder why I feel so embarrassed.. Hmm… Yes, things turned out that way.. ^.^ haha… mhmm..^^;; I don’t know what to say, but I feel like I have to say something to everyone.. It feels so awkward and strange..^^; I’m thankful to have met a good person and I’ll tend (to the relationship) with care… ☺️ I’ll always remember all your love and support and keep it close to my heart.. I hope that this new year brings even better things to everyone. Please stay healthy. Ppyong ☺️”
To the delight of Riri shippers, Son Ye-jin announced that she and Hyun Bin will be getting married soon! She uploaded a photo of a mini wedding dress on 10th Feb 2022, and the post was accompanied by a caption written both in Korean and English.
In her caption, Son Ye-jin writes, “I found someone to spend the rest of my life with. Yes… it’s him.”
Vast Entertainment, the agency home to Hyun Bin, also posted an announcement. It references Ri Jeong-hyuk and Yoon Se-ri, the two main leads from Crash Landing On You. “Jeong-hyuk and Se-ri, who worked together in the drama, will be taking the next step together,” the caption reads.
Image credit: @vast.ent
From their dating news to their engagement announcement, the relationship between Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin has been nothing short of a whirlwind romance. The two actors are 40 years old this year, proving that sometimes, you do have to wait a little to find The One.
We wish the couple all the best, and we’re sure that their wedding will be a fairytale-like dream!
Check out other K-culture articles:
Cover image adapted from: @yejinhand and tvN
This article was first published on 5th Jan 2021 and updated on 11th Feb 2022 by Engracia Ang.
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