The officiating message delivered by Venerable Pomnyun Sunim at the wedding of actors Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin has been made public.
Venerable Pomnyun Sunim presided over the couple’s wedding ceremony, which took place on December 20 at The Shilla Seoul in Jangchungdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, offering his blessings for their new beginning together. The Buddhist monk has shared a long-standing connection with the couple, particularly with Kim Woo Bin, whom he supported during the actor’s battle with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017. Since then, Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin have continued to seek comfort and guidance through Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s lectures and teachings.
Through Jungto Society’s program ‘A Monk’s Day,’ Venerable Pomnyun Sunim shared the congratulatory remarks he delivered to the newlyweds. In his officiating speech, he said, “First of all, congratulations on your marriage. I have known both of you for a long time. Min Ah has a warm and kind heart, and for over a decade she has consistently supported underprivileged children. In particular, she has provided significant help to North Korean defectors who have settled in the South.”
He continued by praising Shin Min Ah’s quiet dedication, explaining, “Children who arrive with defectors often struggle to adapt to South Korean society and frequently face bullying at school. Min Ah has steadily supported after-school programs that care for these children.”
Venerable Pomnyun Sunim also spoke about the deep bond between the couple, recalling Kim Woo Bin’s health struggles. “There was a time when Woo Bin was suffering due to poor health. During that period, Min Ah carried offerings on her head and went to Gwanseeum Bodhisattva at Namsan in Gyeongju, praying together beyond religious boundaries. That Woo Bin was able to regain his health and that the two of them are now standing here today, holding hands and promising to spend their lives together, is truly the result of a profound connection.”
He then offered heartfelt advice about married life, saying, “Living together is not easy. If every day felt like today, how wonderful would that be? As life goes on, differences in perspectives arise, and conflicts naturally follow. Many people believe that because a couple loves each other, they must be the same. While marriage brings many joys, it can also feel like a restriction on personal freedom, which leads to thoughts of wanting to leave. To overcome this, a married couple should not only seek warmth and dependence from one another but must also deeply respect each other’s individual freedom.”
Venerable Pomnyun Sunim emphasized the couple’s public influence as well. “Both of you are widely loved figures in our society. Any conflict between you does not remain a private matter but can affect society as a whole. Therefore, you must always be mindful of the social responsibility that comes with the honor you carry. Beyond your responsibilities as a husband and wife, you must also live in a way that does not betray the love the public has shown you.”
He further advised that marriage should not be a form of confinement but a path toward a higher level of freedom, where two individuals rely on one another while maintaining their independence. He stressed the importance of mutual respect, understanding, and genuine love, as well as the responsibilities that come with becoming parents, should they have children in the future.
Concluding his message, he said, “Please always remember that because you are a couple who receives national love, you also carry a social responsibility that aligns with that love. If you keep this in mind, the happiness you feel today will continue to grow into even greater happiness throughout your lives.”
It is said that Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin took Venerable Pomnyun Sunim’s words to heart as they vowed to spend a lifetime together. The wedding was attended by numerous top stars, including Lee Kwang Soo, Ahn Bo Hyun, EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.), BTS’s V, Kim Tae Ri, and Uhm Jung Hwa, who gathered to celebrate and bless the couple.
Adding further meaning to the occasion, the newlyweds also announced that they had jointly donated 300 million KRW (about 202,643 USD) on their wedding day, marking the beginning of their marriage with a powerful act of generosity.
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