Former Hello Venus member Yooyoung, now active as actress Lee Hwa Gyeom, shared a handwritten letter on Instagram revealing that she will marry her non-celebrity partner later this month.
In her post, she described the wedding as the start of a "new chapter" in her life and thanked fans who have supported her since her idol days.
She added that she met someone who is like a close friend and a big umbrella on difficult days, and said she wants to walk through life together with this person, according to Koreaboo.
Although she is entering a new stage in her personal life, Yoo-Young emphasized that she will continue her professional activities as an actress. After Hello Venus ended group activities in 2019, she shifted her focus to acting and adopted the stage name Lee Hwa Gyeom, later also romanized as Lee Hwa Kyum.
In 2021, her agency Fantagio announced that she had renewed her contract to keep working as an actress, making clear that her long-term plan was to grow in the drama and film industry.
Industry reports about her wedding again highlighted that she intends to greet fans "with a good image as actress Lee Hwa Gyeom," showing that marriage will not halt her career, chosun reported.
Yoo-Young first debuted with Hello Venus in May 2012 as a vocalist, lead dancer, and lead rapper of the group. While still an idol, she started acting with a role in the 2013 SBS drama "Wonderful Mama," and she has since built a steady filmography.
Her recent works include roles in the ENA drama "Salon de Holmes" in 2025 and projects such as "Who Is She" and "Face Me" in 2024, further cementing her position as a working actress.
Fans have been leaving messages of congratulations on social media, celebrating both her upcoming marriage and her decision to keep pursuing acting as her main career path, as per allkpop.
