Girls’ Generation member and actress Tiffany Young (37) says marriage has opened an exciting new chapter in her life. The singer and actress, who recently registered her marriage to actor Byun Yo Han (40), also shared why she has no plans to publicly reveal details about their wedding ceremony.
This year has been one of the busiest periods of Tiffany Young’s career. She is preparing for Girls’ Generation’s highly anticipated full-group comeback to celebrate the group’s 20th debut anniversary next year. Her schedule is also packed with the release of her first full-length solo album on August 20, followed by her first solo Asian tour in September.
In addition, Tiffany has been meeting audiences through the original musical Yumi’s Cells, where she has played the title character Yumi at Seoul Arts Center since June 30.
Based on the globally popular webtoon by Lee Dong Gun, which has accumulated more than 3.5 billion views worldwide, Yumi’s Cells was jointly developed over five years by Sem Company and Studio N. The musical condenses the webtoon’s expansive story into a meticulously crafted 160-minute stage production, creatively portraying the ordinary office worker Yumi’s life and love through the perspective of the cells inside her mind.
Returning to musical theater for the first time in a year after Chicago, Tiffany expressed her affection for the production. “I’m happy to be going to Seoul Arts Center every day. It’s wonderful to perform such a warm story that matches the season. Yumi is such a lovable character that I fell in love with her just like everyone else. It sounds funny to say it myself, but I think my bright and lovely personality suits Yumi very well,” she said.
She continued, “Yumi struggles between work and love, and through her I found myself reflecting on my own past worries, pain, and awkward moments. I kept thinking, ‘That’s right, I was like that too. It’s okay.’ At the time, I hated moving at such a slow pace, but looking back, I realized that pace was exactly what I needed. I hope audiences watching Yumi’s Cells can receive the same kind of comfort. The story encourages you to truly look at yourself, and Yumi’s willingness to do that is what makes her special.”
Tiffany also admitted that she experienced similar concerns about her own career. “I wondered how long I could continue working as an entertainer and what would happen to Girls’ Generation as a group. In the musical, Yumi is 32 years old, and I was 28 during Girls’ Generation’s 10th anniversary. From then until I turned 32, I had so many worries. But I think everyone goes through that. Those experiences have made me feel ready to embrace my 40s.”
Just as Yumi’s primary cell is her “love cell,” Tiffany revealed that love has become her own greatest motivation. Earlier this year, she officially registered her marriage to Byun Yo Han. The two first met while working together on the 2024 Disney+ series Uncle Samsik.
Speaking about her husband, Tiffany said, “He’s always on my side no matter what I do. He supports me in everything. Recently, he even sent a coffee truck to the rehearsal room for Yumi’s Cells. I was so surprised. He’s incredibly thoughtful, sweet, and touching.” She added, “Despite his busy schedule, he came to watch my very first performance of Yumi’s Cells. He was so moved that he cried. He told me it was a truly meaningful work for me as both a musician and an actress.”
Tiffany also shared that Byun Yo Han is always the first person to give feedback on her music. “He’s always at the center of everything I do. He constantly supports me and simply believes in me. His eyes are so full of conviction that I often think, ‘I want to have that kind of confidence too.’ Even as a person, he inspires me.”
Describing him as her “life partner,” Tiffany said, “Marriage has made me happier and given me even more strength. He’s the driving force that allows me to keep moving forward. Thanks to him, I feel like a completely new chapter of my life has begun. I’m truly very happy.”
However, Tiffany surprised many people by announcing only that she had registered her marriage, without revealing any wedding ceremony. Addressing the curiosity surrounding that decision, she shared her personal philosophy about keeping certain aspects of her life private.
“People ask me about it all the time, but that’s a private matter,” Tiffany said firmly. “Since I was young, my life as a member of Girls’ Generation has been incredibly glamorous. But that glamorous image existed because of my work schedule. In reality, I’m not really like that. As I’ve grown older and gained more experience, I’ve appreciated being able to choose what image I want to show people. Today’s world values personal privacy more than ever, and I also prefer to separate my work from my private life.”
She continued, “That’s why I’ve always been very serious and careful when choosing projects. Announcing that we registered our marriage was my choice, and I felt that was enough. Even if we eventually have a wedding ceremony, I don’t want to share it publicly because it belongs to our private lives. I’ve never really dreamed about having a grand wedding, and I don’t think there’s any reason I have to show that part of my life.”
As Girls’ Generation approaches its 20th anniversary, Tiffany reflected on the journey that brought her this far. “There were so many moments, situations, and worries along the way. Sometimes I made the right choices, and sometimes I didn’t, but that’s what led me here. Going forward, rather than focusing on achieving something new, I want to protect what I already have. Girls’ Generation and my members have given me such an incredible space in both my life and career. I want to continue protecting those relationships and making good choices with the projects I take on. That’s my goal.”
She concluded, “I’ll continue giving my very best. Even when I do my best, it never feels like enough. Whether it’s on stage, through music, or on screen, my desire to give audiences everything I have will never change. Working hard is a given. From now on, I simply want to give people only the very best I can.”
Sources: Daum
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