Celebrity List Who Married Into Chaebol Families But Later Divorced: Stories of Silence, Sacrifice, and Strength

Marrying into a powerful chaebol (conglomerate) family may sound like a fairy tale, but for several South Korean celebrities, the reality proved to be far more complex. From long periods of silence to public revelations and eventual divorces, the stories of these famous women highlight the challenges of navigating life as both a public figure and a chaebol daughter-in-law.
Bae In-soon: From Stardom to Silence
Singer Bae In-soon, once a star with The Pearl Sisters, married Choi Won-seok, the second chairman of Dong-A Group, in 1976. Following the marriage, she vanished from the spotlight for over 20 years. Their divorce in 1996 was followed by the release of Bae’s semi-autobiographical novel A Cup of Coffee After 30 Years, where she described her turbulent marriage, including alleged affairs involving her husband and female celebrities.

At a press event, she revealed, “I endured conflicts with my husband and mother-in-law because I didn’t want to raise my children alone.” She also criticized Choi’s treatment of his family: “He treated his wife like a secretary and his children like employees.”
Choi dismissed the book’s contents, stating, “The content is not worth commenting on.”
Go Hyun-jung: Love at Her Peak, Regret in Hindsight
Actress Go Hyun-jung married Jung Yong-jin, the second chairman of Shinsegae Group, in 1995, just as her career soared with Sandglass. She stepped away from acting to join one of Korea’s most powerful families, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2003.



Go reflected candidly: “I truly liked him. We just married too early. If we had met later, I might have lived up to expectations.” She also emphasized that his status had no influence on her decision to marry.
Choi Jung-yoon: A Marriage Marred by Scandal
In 2011, actress Choi Jung-yoon wed Yoon Tae-joon, son of E-Land Group’s chairman and a former idol. In 2017, Yoon faced legal trouble for stock manipulation, resulting in a suspended prison sentence and a hefty fine, which halted Choi’s career.



After a decade of marriage, the couple divorced in 2021. Choi’s agency chose to keep the details private. Now a single mother, Choi has spoken openly about financial challenges and the possibility of taking on multiple jobs, earning sympathy and support from the public.
While these women once appeared to live the dream of marrying into wealth and prestige, their stories reveal the emotional cost behind the headlines. Their resilience in the face of adversity continues to resonate with the public, shedding light on the rarely seen struggles behind glamorous façades.