Former BIGBANG member Seungri reveals he is married, but not to the woman who stood by him through prison

(Seoul) Former BIGBANG member Seungri was reported on 27 October to be expecting a baby early next year with his 20-year-old girlfriend, who is not in show business. A day later, he confirmed that he was “already married”, saying the couple had registered their marriage some time ago.

According to Japanese media reports, Seungri said in an interview on the 28th: “This is a private matter, so I feel some pressure about going into too much detail. But my wife and I are, of course, legally married. The claim that we ‘got married because of the pregnancy’ is absolutely untrue.” He directly rejected speculation that the pregnancy had prompted the marriage. Asked about reports that he planned to hold a wedding after the baby was born, he said unequivocally: “We are not considering holding a wedding at all at the moment.”

Asked how he felt about becoming a father, he said emotionally: “Knowing that I will have to shoulder the responsibility of a family, I feel a greater sense of responsibility. I am reflecting deeply on how my past mistakes disappointed and hurt people. In future, I will show that I have changed by living quietly and honestly.”

He also appealed to the public: “I would be very grateful if you could look kindly on my life from here on. But as my family members are not public figures, please refrain from excessive attention and speculation.”

Despite entering a new phase of life, Seungri’s reputation remains poor. In August this year, a complaint was filed against him for allegedly assaulting other customers at a restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam district. His lawyer recently issued a statement stressing: “He did pick up a bottle, but he absolutely did not swing it or smash it against the other person.” The lawyer also said the complainant had sought a settlement after filing the complaint. However, Seungri felt he could not accept admitting to “something he had not done”, and decided to cooperate honestly with investigators and let the legal process establish the truth.

Meanwhile, South Korean model, influencer and former actress Yoo Hye-won, 31, was previously in a relationship with Seungri. The pair sparked persistent dating rumours after they were photographed embracing outside a hotel in 2018. She stood by him when the Burning Sun scandal broke in 2019 and accompanied him in a car as he reported for military service in 2020. They remained a couple through to his release from prison in 2023 after completing his sentence. Their six-year relationship ended only after South Korean media reported that Seungri had allegedly cheated on her with a close friend of hers. Now that Seungri has confirmed his marriage to a woman in her 20s who is not in show business, Yoo’s past remarks have drawn renewed attention.

Around the time reports emerged of Seungri allegedly “cheating with her close friend”, Yoo wrote on social media: “A boyfriend… sometimes I have one, sometimes I don’t. I will only go public with someone who is going to marry me.” The timing further fuelled speculation that she and Seungri had broken up.

Appearing on the dating reality show Couple Palace 2 (《情侣宫殿2》) in 2025, she confirmed for the first time: “I once had a boyfriend I dated for six years. I was the one who confessed my feelings first, and we had met each other’s parents. We really did almost get married, but broke up for other reasons.” On the same show, she also acknowledged: “I dated a very bad guy who was very popular. Now I just want an ordinary relationship.” The length of the relationship and details of her previously publicised romance closely matched her history with Seungri, leading to speculation that he was the “boyfriend of six years” she was referring to.

As Seungri announced his marriage, his “ex” Yoo also “coincidentally” posted on social media. Her posts, however, shared group-buying information and focused on everyday life and work. She made no comment on his marriage.