First Generation K-Pop Icon Talks About Her Extreme Disinterest In Marriage

Despite being a K-Pop powerhouse and a commendable actress, Uhm Jung Hwa can’t often escape the curiosity around her decision to be still single in her 50s. In a recent YouTube appearance, the diva addressed the topic once again, sharing her honest thoughts about marriage.

Uhm Jung Hwa

Uhm Jung Hwa recently appeared as a special guest on Supermarket Sora, a YouTube show hosted by Lee So Ra, South Korea’s first supermodel and a longtime close friend of Uhm’s.

Lee So Ra (left) with Uhm Jung Hwa | @esora777/Instagram

The two talked at length about Uhm Jung Hwa’s glorious return to the entertainment industry in 2023, where she bagged a double kill as an actress and a K-Pop artist. In her former role, Uhm delivered a hit K-Drama, Doctor Cha, while as the latter, she held her first concert in 20 years. These achievements are significant milestones as she accomplished them not only as a celebrity in her 50s but also after a long battle with thyroid cancer and its aftereffects.

| @umaizing/Instagram

Uhm Jung Hwa confessed that while organizing the concert, she had moments where she wanted to give up, scared of her voice failing her. However, she underwent intense training and practice sessions to be able to give her fans a memorable concert. Lee So Ra, who attended the show, couldn’t hold back her compliments for her friend’s grit and passion as a performer.

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While talking about her flourishing career, Lee So Ra brought up Uhm Jung Hwa’s sensational movie, Marriage Is A Crazy Thing, which led to them talking about marriage. The host teased Uhm, saying, “Why aren’t you getting married? Do you not have any plans to do it whatsoever?”

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Uhm playfully responded, “Are you asking this to yourself?”

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As the two broke into a laugh, Uhm Jung Hwa candidly talked about her thoughts on marriage, saying she has never felt like getting married in her life so far.

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When Lee So Ra asked if she would be sad seeing her friend get married someday, Uhm Jung Hwa responded that while she would be happy for her, she likes it way too much that both of them are unmarried.

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The singer also revealed that she dated someone with marriage in mind but realized that she never saw herself in a marriage. “My life’s purpose is not marriage. I like my work,” she explained her epiphany. As a result, she has never had the desire to get married.

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Uhm also mentioned that marriages these days are a lot more cooperative than they were back in her youth. So, she is still open to all possibilities.

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But these days, you can dream the same dreams after getting married. In the past, there would be many obstacles to working when you got married.

— Uhm Jung Hwa

While women are still vilified by society for choosing their careers over a family, a star like Uhm Jung Hwa talking about choosing work over marriage is a powerful statement in itself, especially in the context of a more conservative Korean society.