K-Pop Demon Hunters' Ejae and Sam Kim marry in Seoul a month ahead of plan
In short
Singer-songwriter Ejae (이재) and producer-composer Sam Kim (샘 킴) married on 17 October at Stage28 in Seoul's Gangdong district, Korean outlets reported, citing Vogue. The couple had planned a November wedding in California but moved it to Korea and about a month earlier. The venue is the former home of Ejae's maternal grandfather, veteran actor Shin Young-kyun.
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Singer-songwriter Ejae (이재) and producer-composer Sam Kim (샘 킴) married on 17 October at Stage28 in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, according to Vogue as cited by Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo, Yonhap and Maeil Business. The two are known for their work on the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Chosun Ilbo, carrying OSEN, said Vogue and Ejae shared photos of the ceremony on social media, and Hankook Ilbo said Vogue published the scene and an interview with the couple. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
The couple had originally planned to hold the wedding in California in November. Yonhap and Maeil Business said they moved it to Korea and about a month earlier. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the change reflected a busy schedule after the film's success and the couple's wish to include their Korean roots. They said preparations had paused during a long promotional tour and awards season, and the date was fixed in about four months after the venue moved to Seoul. Yonhap likewise said they prepared for four months. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
Stage28 is the former home site of Ejae's maternal grandfather, veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, 99, and is where the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation is located. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said Ejae is the child of Shin's daughter Shin Hye-jin, vice chairman of Seyoung Enterprise. Hankook Ilbo quoted Ejae as saying her grandparents lived there when she was a child and that her brother also married there. Maeil Business said her brother reportedly held his wedding there too. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap quoted Ejae telling Vogue the preparations were hectic and stressful but that everything fell into place perfectly. Hankook Ilbo said she also described walking toward her groom surrounded by close friends and family as a moment she would never forget. [ 3 , 5 ]
Before the ceremony, the couple held a pyebaek, a traditional Korean ritual, at a Korean restaurant in Seoul, according to Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business. Hankook Ilbo said her grandfather Shin and grandmother Kim Seon-hee attended. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the ceremony took place in the outdoor garden and that the reception followed in a greenhouse, with bilingual toasts and a live set by the wedding band After Eight. They added that a small group continued in Itaewon afterwards. Per Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo, the couple also attended on 15 October at the same site the foundation's 16th Beautiful Artist Awards and Shin's baeksuyeon (白壽宴) celebration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo and Maeil Business reported that Ejae wore a custom tulle gown by designer Danielle Frankel, then dresses by Zac Posen and Milla Nova at the reception, while Sam Kim wore a double-breasted tuxedo from Bhambi's Custom Tailors in New York and a custom white Zac Posen tuxedo. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
Yonhap said the two met at a music session in 2017 and have been colleagues and partners since. Yonhap said Ejae, a former SM Entertainment trainee, worked on songs including Red Velvet's 'Psycho' and aespa's 'Drama', and that the song 'Golden', which she co-wrote and sang on, won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The coverage is celebrity and entertainment news about the music team behind the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Outlets tie the change of plan to the film's success and to the couple's wish to reflect their Korean roots.
Key facts
- Ejae and Sam Kim held their wedding on 17 October at Stage28 in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, according to Vogue as cited by Korean outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- They had planned to marry in California in November, but moved the wedding to Korea and about a month earlier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Stage28 is the former home site of Ejae's maternal grandfather, actor Shin Young-kyun, and houses the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the schedule change reflected a busy post-film calendar and the couple's wish to include Korean roots. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Before the ceremony the couple held a traditional pyebaek ritual at a Korean restaurant in Seoul. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- The two first met at a music session in 2017. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ejae and Sam Kim married on 17 October at Stage28 in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, as reported by several outlets citing Vogue. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- The wedding was originally planned for November in California and was moved to Korea and brought forward by about a month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Stage28 is the former home site of Ejae's grandfather Shin Young-kyun and the location of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- Ejae and Sam Kim first met in 2017 through a music or songwriting session. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- When the couple got engaged. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo place the engagement in June 2025, Yonhap says June last year, and Maeil Business says late 2023.
- How long the couple have been together. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say eight years together and Hankook Ilbo says about eight years, while the Chosun Ilbo headline says nine years.
- Whether the venue was given as a specific address. Most outlets name Stage28 in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, while Chosun Ilbo (carrying OSEN) says only that it was held somewhere in Gangdong-gu.
- Date of the Vogue report. Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap say Vogue reported on the 19th (local time), while Newsis, Dong-A Ilbo, Maeil Business and Chosun Ilbo cite Vogue on the 20th.