A certain South Korean actor and one of his K-drama projects have particularly become the talk of K-town all over again, possibly even more than ever. The unexpected switch made buzzworthy headlines after Byun Yo Han and one of his co-stars from the same series issued major life updates.
On Saturday, K-media started floating reports that Byun and American actress-singer Tiffany Young of Korean descent, who had previously worked together on the Disney+ drama Uncle Samsik, were looking forward to getting hitched in the fall of 2026.
While romance-focussed gossip is nothing new in the K-entertainment world, fortunately this didn’t spiral into what K-media and Korean netizens end up viewing as a “scandal.”
Official word is out about Byun Yo Han and Tiffany Young
Soon after the reports started swirling around, Yo Han’s agency, TEAMHOPE issued an official statement, confirming that the Uncle Samsik co-star were indeed in a serious relationship. Their Disney+ series had premiered on the OTT platform in May 2024.
The statement informed the world that the K-drama star and Tiffany, who may be better known as a member of the K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation (or SNSD) to some, were currently dating with “marriage in mind.”
As per Soompi’s English translation of the statement, the agency highlighted that a concrete schedule tied to the couple’s potential wedding had yet to formalised. It also highlighted that both K-entertainment celebrities intend to inform their fans as soon as things are set in stone.
Byun’s agency went on to ask the public to extend warm blessings to the couple so that their future be filled with love.
Byun Yo Han and Tiffany Young pen letters to fans
Directly addressing their relationship, the happy couple relied on social media to share personally written letters for the fans.
The Girls’ Generation member further asserted that she is currently in a serious relationship with someone she has “positive feelings for,” as per Soompi’s English translation of the letter. Akin to TEAMHOPE’s message, Tiffany disclosed that she and her partner were planning to get married.
“He is someone who makes me see the world from a perspective that is optimistic and full of hope, someone who brings me peace of mind,” she wrote ahead. “Although we haven’t decided on a concrete schedule, if an important decision is made in the future, I will tell my fans directly first.”
Similarly, Byun wrote his confession online, name-dropping his fandom “BANHAN.” Noting that he wanted to share his message with the fans firsthand, he wrote, “I am currently dating a good person with marriage in mind. Although we don’t have a concrete schedule or plans yet, I have always had the strong desire to share this news with my fans first, above all else.”
Describing his partner and their dynamic, Byun added, “I have met someone I love who, when I see her smiling face, quickly warms my weary heart, and when we’re together, I find myself wanting to become a better person.”
Byun Yo Han’s K-drama Uncle Samsik back in focus
The period K-drama series was primarily led by actor Song Kang Ho, who is often revered as one of the most influential stars in Korean cinema. Despite having debuted decades ago through stage plays and eventually films, the critically acclaimed actor’s first-ever drama series was ultimately 2024 show in question. Even with such a powerful presence attached to the series, Uncle Samsik largely slipped under the radar.
It’s making a rather unprecedented comeback in light of Byun’s latest relationship update. While he joined Song Kang Ko in the main cast roster, Tiffany was part of the supporting lineup in the same series. One particular scene has especially caught the eye of K-drama fans now that both stars are confirmed to be romantically entangled. At the time, the two shared an intimate scene, which required them to kiss each other onscreen.
In a subsequently released interview with K-media, which is also grabbing attention now, she opened up about her lack of acting experience at the time. Still, she pointed out during the media interaction that the moment she and Byun shared on camera was extremely intense and passionate.
In the same interview, Tiffany divulged that she took on the role of Byun Yo Han’s English tutor, which possibly paved the way for their close connection in real life.
More about Byun Yo Han
According to his MyDramaList profile, Byun made his acting debut in 2011, having studied at the prestigious Korea National University of Arts. Just years down the line, he bagged his leading roles in South Korean films like Socialphobia, Ex-Girlfriends’ Club and Will You Be There?
On the drama side, he was among the leading lot of the iconic Korean TV show Mr Sunshine alongside Lee Byung Hun, Kim Tae Ri, Yoo Yeon Seok and Kim Min Jung. Over the years, he’s made indispensable contributions to onscreen projects like Misaeng: Incomplete Life, Six Flying Dragons, Black Out, and Hansan: Rising Dragon.
Thanks to quite a few of these roles, he’s even bagged illustrious honours at ceremonies like APAN Star Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, Buil Film Awards, Cine21 Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards, MBC Drama Awards, SBS Drama Awards and more.