Male stars’ marriages that were strongly criticized: Kwon Sang Woo and Lee Seung Gi were under heavy fire for partner choice, Kimura Kakuya’s career almost went to dust 

With perseverance, these male stars pulled through and some were finally accepted by the public. 

Male actors at the peak of their career usually suffer a blow to their popularity after announcing their marriage to the public. The damage might be a strong impact on their career or almost irreversible as the audience turned their backs on them. 

Lee Seung Gi

Once the most loved male star of the Korean showbiz, Lee Seung Gi is facing backlash after he announced marriage to Lee Da In, daughter of Kyun Mi Ri. 

At the time of dating, Lee Da In was already embroiled in a scamming scandal when her mother, Kyun Mi Ri was investigated for alleged stock manipulation and Mi Ri’s current husband was also arrested for similar charges. 

To express their frustration, Lee Seung Gi’s fans also sent a truck with disapproving banners to Lee Seung Gi’s residence.  

To many, Lee Seung Gi was reputed for being a celebrity with no controversial past, therefore, they did not want to see him having any relations to the Kyun Mi Ri’s family. While Kyun Mi Ri did accept interview invitations to clarify irrelevant rumors and protect Lee Seung Gi, the public still strongly objected to the relationship. 

Moreover, as Lee Seung Gi himself was a victim of an 18-year-long scamming, his decision to get with a family with past record on the same issue confused many. In addition, as Lee Seung Gi donated billions of won before the marriage announcement, the public are suspicious of his real motives, reasoning that it might have been a move to polish his image. 

Kwon Sang Woo

Kwon Sang Woo and Son Tae Young are currently the ideal couple of Korean showbiz for their stable and happy relationship. However, it was not always the same in the past. 

In 2008, when Kwon Sang Woo went public with the former “Miss Korea” Son Tae Young, he did not receive support from fans due to the actress’ complex past with other actors. 

Sang Woo’s club plunged from 240,000 members to only 135,000 overnight. Seven of his current collaborating brands terminated their advertising contracts out of fear that they would be negatively affected after his dating announcement. 

In light of the boycott, Sang Woo was firm with his decision. He proposed to Tae Young on an air balloon in Australia and planned a grand wedding to get married. With time, Sang Woo and his relationship were accepted and the actor began making his return to the field. After 15 years together, the couple is having a happy married life with two kids, Luke and Riho. 

Chen (EXO)

In 2020, Chen (EXO) caused a stir when he suddenly announced marriage to his non-celebrity girlfriend and was about to become a dad. The news came as a shock as the singer never went public with anyone and already jumped to marriage. When Chen went to the army, his wife had their second child. 

Receiving the news, Chen’s fans were taken aback and started voicing their disagreement by closing down their fansite and sending back destroyed albums and merchandise to SM. Some went further and demanded Chen be removed from EXO to stop him from affecting other members. The boycott reached its peak when a protest and truck carrying banners were organized. 

When Chen wrote in a letter to fans, saying that EXO members already knew about his marriage, fans were not able to let it go. 

For two long years after the marriage, many fans still cannot accept him and are determined with the boycott. In 2023, when EXO announced their group comeback, EXO fans were divided, with some ready to accept him while others actively against his return. 

Kimura Takuya

Kimura Takuya is known as a “Japanese icon” for the various successes in his career. Many rookie actors look up to him as an idol they want to become in the future. At one point, Kimura Takuya even created the “Kimutaku phenomenon,” bringing unimaginable profit to the Japanese economy. 

As an A-lister, when Kimura announced his relationship with top singer Kudo Shizuka, the couple was under constant scrutiny. 

However, what came as a shock the most was when the actor announced his marriage to Shizuka in a concert. The whole of Japan was sent into a frenzy and NHK delivered the news once every 15 minutes. 

After the announcement, Kimura was strongly boycotted. Kimura’s fans were strongly against the marriage and Kudo Shizuka was under heavy fire during her pregnancy. The couple became the most hated pair in Japan at the time. 

Luckily for Kimura, when “Hero” was aired, it received good achievements and stopped his career from going downhill rapidly. The actor is currently continuing his work in the field while his wife retired to take care of their family. After many years of hate and resentment, the couple stay together and have two children, Cocomi and Koki. 

Source: Naver