Jo Yongguk and Na Younghee: "A Neighborhood Celebration Without Meal Ticket Checks"
Groom's Family Seats Filled by Governor Lee Cheolwoo, Chairman Park Seongman, and Actor Jeon Gwangryeol
Since the construction of the new Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office building, the first-ever "Couple No. 1" wedding ceremony was held on the lawn.
Jo Yongguk (56) and Na Younghee (49), a couple residing in the new provincial government city, held their wedding ceremony for the first time on the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office lawn on the afternoon of the 22nd, marking the beginning of a "romantic wedding."
Couple Jo Yongguk (56) and Na Younghee (49), who held the first wedding ceremony on the lawn since the construction of the new Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office building, are sharing a kiss in front of their guests.
Previously, the provincial government had planned weddings in the multipurpose hall to give hope and reduce the financial burden for couples who suffered mental and economic hardship due to cancellations or postponements of their weddings five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is the first time since the opening of the new Andong-Yecheon government complex in 2016 that an ordinary citizen has directly applied to use the outdoor lawn for a wedding ceremony.
The Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office lawn covers an area of about 4,000 square meters, providing space for approximately 300 guests to attend a wedding simultaneously. The province offers a sharing service so that any resident can freely use the space, but until now, there had never been a single application to use it as a wedding venue.
The groom, Jo Yongguk, is a current newspaper journalist, while the bride, Na Younghee, is a former Miss Korea who has worked as a yoga instructor for 26 years and recently made a splash as a senior fashion model.
The couple had maintained a long-distance relationship for three years, commuting between Daegu and Andong-Yecheon due to work, before finally settling down in the new provincial government city in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, where the groom lives. On this day, they began a new chapter as a "remarried" couple.
The ceremony was held without an officiant, with the bride and groom reading their marriage vows themselves. Notably, in place of the groom's late parents, Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheolwoo, Gyeongsangbuk-do Council Chairman Park Seongman, and actor Jeon Gwangryeol, a long-time close friend of the groom, sat in the seats of honor, drawing attention.
Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Park Seongman, Chairman of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, and actor Jeon Gwangryeol are sitting in place of the groom Jo Yongguk's family.
On the bride's side, relatives sat in place of her late father and widowed mother, witnessing the couple's vows.
Having only registered their marriage, the couple had considered skipping the ceremony or holding a small wedding, but ultimately decided on a special outdoor wedding, believing that holding a wedding carelessly because of others' opinions would be unfair to themselves and others.
Because the outdoor wedding was open for anyone to attend regardless of personal connections, the couple also removed the meal ticket check at the entrance to the nearby banquet hall, allowing local residents who came to watch to eat for free, for the same reason.
Groom Jo Yongguk and bride Na Younghee, the "first couple" of the lawn, said, "We decided on an outdoor wedding on the lawn because we were reminded of the romance and memories of old wedding celebrations, which were more than just ceremonies and were warm events where family and neighbors gathered together in the yard to celebrate. We had always considered the nearby facilities within the provincial government complex, where anyone could have a meal without hesitation while passing by on their way to and from work."
They continued, "Having built deep trust over many years, we have promised to be lifelong partners. We hope everyone will celebrate our happiness without prejudice, and we promise to live well with all those present today as witnesses."
Jo Yongguk said, "On a happy day like today, I feel sad and regretful that my late father, mother, and father-in-law are not here, but I am grateful that my mother-in-law is with us, and I will take even better care of her from now on. I will do my best and love my wife Na Younghee so that she never has to suffer or cry because of me until the day I die," he said, his eyes welling up with tears.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheolwoo and Gyeongsangbuk-do Council Chairman Park Seongman, who delivered congratulatory speeches, seemed to sense the unique atmosphere among the couple and guests, aware that this was a "remarried couple," and filled the venue with laughter through witty remarks that emphasized it was not their first marriage.
Governor Lee joked, "You two seemed to be living happily even without getting married, so why bother having a wedding like this?" He added, "It's been 10 years since the new Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office was built, and you are the first couple to hold a wedding on the lawn. I sincerely hope you will always be as happy as you are now."
Chairman Park said, "They say you have to experience the pain of 'divorce' once to truly understand life. I thought the groom would walk better at his second wedding, but he still seemed awkward." He added, "As the chairman, my final decision is the highest decision-making process in local councils for major policies, and today, I officially declare with a bang that the marriage of Jo Yongguk and Na Younghee will last forever," bringing laughter and emotion to the couple and guests.
Actor Jeon Gwangryeol said, "I have been like a brother to Yongguk for many years," and after reading a letter he had written, looked at the groom and said, "Yongguk, be happy," expressing his joy and congratulations.
About 200 guests attended the wedding, with Andong MBC announcer Park Jongseon, singers Jung Jaeuk and Song Yuvin, and K-pop dance team 'Frankers' each taking on the roles of host, congratulatory singer, and performer, celebrating the future of Jo Yongguk and Na Younghee.
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