Lee Min-jung Recounts Dramatic Reunion with Husband Lee Byung-hun After Breakup: 'How Dare He?'

Actress Lee Min-jung has shared the candid story behind her past relationship, breakup, and eventual reunion with her husband, actor Lee Byung-hun, on her YouTube channel 'Lee Min-jung MJ'.

Lee Min-jung revealed that she dated Lee Byung-hun for about a year just before her drama 'Boys Over Flowers' skyrocketed her career. However, when Lee Byung-hun had to go abroad for over a year, she felt he was using it as an excuse to break up. "How dare he?" she recalled thinking, stating that she believed ending a relationship because of such an excuse meant there was no love, and she decisively ended things.

The actual reason for the breakup, as Lee Min-jung explained, was Lee Byung-hun's unavoidable long-term stay abroad for his Hollywood debut. He apparently felt it would be difficult to maintain a long-distance relationship with Lee Min-jung, who was a rising star at the time. Later, Lee Byung-hun reached out from overseas, but Lee Min-jung playfully delayed her responses or ignored his messages.

The pivotal moment of their reunion occurred at a film awards ceremony. Lee Min-jung was attending to receive a rookie award for her film 'Sunny' when she encountered Lee Byung-hun. Although she initially ignored him, they eventually reconnected and eventually married.

Furthermore, Lee Min-jung touched upon the topic of jealousy between them regarding kissing scenes. She confessed that Lee Byung-hun gets jealous every time she films such scenes, citing instances where he was jealous of her kissing scenes with Lee Sang-yeop in 'Once Again' and with Gong Yoo in 'Big'. In contrast, Lee Min-jung humorously noted that she rarely experienced jealousy as Lee Byung-hun hasn't had many romantic or intimate scenes since their marriage, mentioning his roles in 'Inside Men', 'The Fortress', and 'Squid Game' as examples where such scenes were absent.

Lee Min-jung and Lee Byung-hun married in 2013 and are now raising their son and a daughter born in December 2023.

Lee Min-jung made her acting debut in 2002 and has since garnered recognition for her roles in various dramas and films. She has consistently maintained her popularity through hit works such as 'Boys Over Flowers', 'Smile, You', 'Please Come Back, Mister', and 'Once Again'. Beyond her acting career, she is also celebrated for her impeccable fashion sense, establishing herself as a style icon.