TVXQ’s Yunho Confesses He Once Planned to Marry His Girlfriend, Sparking Renewed Dating Rumors
Yunho of TVXQ surprised fans with a rare and heartfelt confession about his love life during a recent episode of the SBS variety show My Manager – The Secretaries Who Are Too Prickly for Me. The K-pop star revealed that he once planned to marry a past girlfriend — his first time discussing such a personal topic since debuting over two decades ago.
Yunho Opens Up About Love and Marriage
Appearing as the sixth guest on the show’s November 14 episode, the 40-year-old singer showed an unusually candid side as he reflected on his views about dating and marriage. When fellow guest Lee Seo-jin asked, “You’re 40; don’t you ever want to rest?”, Yunho responded passionately,
“I don’t want to set age limits. I feel like I don’t have much time left, so I burn harder.”
The conversation soon turned to relationships, with Lee teasing, “You have to date intensely so you can’t get out of it.” Yunho replied with a smile,
“I’ve had dating scandals. My dating periods tend to be long.”
When Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon chimed in, calling herself “the loyal type,” Yunho agreed, saying,
“I’m loyal too.”
Then came the revelation that stunned fans. Yunho admitted that in his twenties, he had seriously considered marriage.
“I originally wanted to get married early. So I told Chairman Lee Soo-man at the time, ‘I like someone now,’ and ‘I will get married,’” he revealed.
Yunho added that his former mentor was understanding but offered some advice that ultimately changed the course of his plans.
“He said, ‘Everything is fine, but have children later.’ In the end, it didn’t go my way,” Yunho said, describing the relationship as one he had wanted to “protect.”
Fans React to Yunho’s Rare Confession
The confession marked the first time in his career that Yunho had publicly acknowledged a serious romantic relationship. Fans quickly took to social media to express shock and admiration over his honesty, with many calling the moment one of the most genuine glimpses into his private life.
Reactions poured in online following the broadcast, with fans commenting:
“This is the first time I’ve seen Yunho this honest.”
“Declaring marriage — that’s amazing.”
“Who was the person he wanted to marry?”
Within hours, Yunho’s remarks reignited old dating rumors from earlier in his career.
Revisiting Past Dating Rumors
Over the years, Yunho has been linked to several high-profile figures in the Korean entertainment industry, including Seo Yea-ji, Yoon-i, and Park Soo-jin. At the time, Yunho denied the rumors, clarifying that he and Yoon-i as well as Park Soo-jin were “close friends,” while he described his relationship with Seo Yea-ji as strictly “professional colleagues.”
None of these relationships were ever confirmed, but fans are now reexamining those old reports in light of Yunho’s new confession. Many believe the mystery woman he spoke about could have been someone from that era — over ten years ago — when Yunho was in his twenties.
Online communities lit up with speculation, with users posting questions such as, “Could the girlfriend he wanted to marry be one of the rumored celebrities from that time?” and “He must have been truly in love to talk about it even now.”
A Softer, More Honest Side of Yunho
Known for his professionalism, discipline, and passion — often nicknamed “Passion Mansour” by fans — Yunho’s candid remarks revealed a softer, more vulnerable side of the idol. His admission that he once shared his marriage intentions directly with SM Entertainment’s founder underscored just how serious the relationship had been.
“In my twenties, I wanted to protect the person I liked,” he explained, reflecting on his younger self. “It was a love that taught me a lot.”
The episode showed Yunho as both a seasoned performer and a deeply introspective individual — someone willing to speak openly about love and heartbreak for the first time in his long career.
What’s Next for Yunho
Following the episode’s broadcast, fans praised Yunho for breaking the silence around his personal life and for showing vulnerability rarely seen among K-pop idols. As one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “He’s still the same passionate Yunho, but now we see the man behind the stage persona.”
While Yunho didn’t name the woman he once wanted to marry, his honesty has reignited curiosity — and admiration — among fans who have followed him since his TVXQ debut in 2003.
For now, the singer seems focused on his career and self-growth. But one thing is clear — Yunho’s heartfelt confession has reminded fans that even K-pop’s most composed stars have stories of love, loss, and dreams that didn’t go as planned.
Do you think Yunho will ever reveal who his past girlfriend was? Share your thoughts in the comments on InvestRecords.com.
