Left, Kwon Sang-woo / Right, Sohn Tae-young



By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo, 32, announced plans to tie the knot with actress Sohn Tae-young, 28, in an outdoor ceremony at the Shilla Hotel, Sept. 28. Kwon appeared before reporters Friday night at the Seoul Plaza Hotel to confirm the news that had fans and the actors' own management companies in confusion.

Kwon expressed great surprise at the influx of reporters at the press meeting that took place at 9 p.m. at short notice. The actor rose to hallyu stardom through his tough guy role in the TV soap ``Stairway to Heaven'' opposite Choi Ji-woo and recently appeared as a gangster in ``The Fate.'' But in real life, he said he was the one who shed tears after proposing to Sohn with an engagement ring. His fiancee hugged him warmly.

The ``My Tutor Friend'' star met the former Miss Korea earlier this year at a small party with mutual celebrity friends. News of their romance started circulating Wednesday and became the most searched topic on major domestic portals like Naver. Before the press meeting, Kwon verified the engagement through his fan Web site and apologized for the belated announcement. ``Sohn Tae-young is my haven,'' he told reporters, but kept silent to inquiries about a pregnancy.

Sohn is known through several TV melodramas and received acclaim for her role in the film ``The Railroad.'' Netizens are once again gossiping about the screen beauty's dating history. In 2001, she made headlines for dating actor Shin Hyun-joon shortly after splitting with famed songwriter Joo Young-hoon. A so-called love triangle among the three drew much public attention. Sohn again became the talk of the town in 2006 when she got involved with music video director Cool K. She openly expressed the pain of breaking up on a TV talk show last year, saying ``I have lost faith in love.''

Meanwhile, Sohn's sister Hye-im, also a former Miss Korea, was also in the media spotlight after giving birth to a daughter July 9 with her husband, popular pianist/composer Yiruma. The two were married at the same venue Kwon and Sohn plan to marry.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr