Is Arranged Marriage Outdated? Jeon Soo-kyung‘s Father’s Surprising Take

Daniel Kim | 2026.04.08

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 TV Chosun \
 TV Chosun "Dad and Me" (Original Korean Title Translation) screen capture

Jeon Su-gyeong’s father opened up about arranged marriage.

On the afternoon of April 8, TV Chosun’s variety show Dad and I aired a segment that followed musical actress Jeon Su-gyeong and her 97-year-old father through their daily life.

That day, Jeon’s father invited acquaintances — including the head of a group he belongs to — and treated them to a meal. The guests poked fun at the homemade spread, and he quipped, “If they learn my tastes like this, they won’t do it again.”

Meanwhile, a 94-year-old acquaintance recalled an episode from his past: “I got a letter while I was in the military — my father wrote the wedding date and sent it.” The remark drew attention. When Jeon asked, “Was that a matchmaking meeting?” he replied, “What matchmaking meeting?” Jeon reacted in surprise: “Was it an arranged marriage? Didn’t your family decide without meeting the woman?”

 TV Chosun \
 TV Chosun "Dad and Me" (Original Korean Title Translation) screen capture

Jeon followed up, “Did you see the bride’s face for the first time then?” Han Hye-jin, watching the clip, exclaimed, “It’s like a drama,” sharing the surprise.

The acquaintance admitted, “I first saw her when we bowed to each other. The woman beside her — the one helping her bow — was very pretty,” which sent the room into laughter. He added, “My wife lived to be 68. Back then, a lot of people got married that way.”

Listening, Jeon turned to her father and asked, “Dad, you’re the free-love type, right?” Her father answered, “Yes. I had to like her myself,” drawing attention as he dismissed the notion of an arranged marriage.