We Got Married (Hangul: 우리 결혼했어요) is a South Korean reality variety show, one segment of the Sunday Sunday Night program. First broadcast in 2008, the show pairs up Korean celebrities to show what life would be like if they were married. Each week, couples are assigned missions to complete, with candid interviews of the participants to reveal their thoughts and feelings.
The Hosts
The pilot episode that aired as a special on New Year's Day was hosted by Lee Hyuk-jae, Hyun Young and Oh Sang Jin. The first season, only Hyuk-jae remains as an original host. He was joined by Kim Won Hee, and Lee Hwi Jae for the first 8 episodes until Hwi Jae replaced Jung Hyung Don as one of the grooms in episode 9. Won Hee later left to film a movie after episode 12, and Park Myung Soo was then introduced as host in episode 13. After episode 17, Hwi Jae resumed his position as MC, and the latest addition of Kang Soo Jung, now the only female, brings a total of 5 hosts. Lee Hwi Jae officially left the show after Episode 30 in order to make time for other programs. In preparation for its new format in addition to budget cuts, the MCs and live studio recordings were officially dropped after Episode 36.
In Season II, the series consisted of three permanent hosts Park Mi-Sun, Jo Hyung Gi and Kim Na Young, and guest commentators from different age groups appearing every few weeks. The studio was replaced by a smaller room with no live audience where the progress of the marriages is discussed. As of episode 78, host Jo Hyung Gi no longer appears on the show. In Episode 80 and 81 where the husbands and wives were separated into two groups, the couples watched the footage along with the hosts in the studio. From episode 100 and above, Seulong and Jinwoon of 2AM become regular commentators along with Park Mi Sun, Kim Jung Min, and Kim Na Young.
2008 Lunar New Year Special
This special pilot episode aired on February 6, 2008. The four arranged couples must prepare dinner with a fixed amount of money.
Couples
Alex Chu & Jang Yoon Jeong
Jung Hyung Don & Saori
Crown J & Seo In Young
Hong Kyung Min & Solbi
Season 1
See also: We Got Married (Season 1)
With a new format and slightly different couples, newlyweds are given a mission to complete each week. As during the special pilot episode, interviewed participants provide a unique perspective on the ongoing relationship conflicts and developments. All of the recorded material is then played in front of the participants, MCs, and audience who add commentary or clarification.
Beginning with a Lunar New Year's Special in 2009 with three new couples, a new format is introduced into the show, first forecasted through the addition of Kangin and Lee Yoon Ji. Each couple is given a concept to portray; in Kangin and Lee Yoon Ji's case, a college couple living with a limited income. The show now consists of more special effects and editing in order to show each couple in a set atmosphere and theme.
Original couples
Alex & Shin Ae (Ep 1-8, 13-34)
Crown J & Seo In Young (Ep 1-41)
Andy & Solbi (Ep 1-28)
Jung Hyung Don & Saori (Ep 1-8)
Additional couples
Lee Hwi Jae & Jo Yeo Jeong (Ep 9-17)
Kim Hyun Joong & Hwangbo (Ep 9-38)
Hwanhee & Hwayobi (Ep 25, 29-44)
Marco & Son Dam Bi (Ep 25, 29-44)
Choi Jin Young & Lee Hyun Ji (Ep 25)
Kangin & Lee Yoon Ji (Ep 39-55)
Jeong Hyeong-don & Kim Taeyeon (Ep 42-54)
Shin Sung Rok & Kim Shin Young (Ep 42, 45-54)
Jun Jin & Lee Si Young (Ep 42, 45-55)
Season 2
See also: We Got Married (Season 2)
New opening promo
As of May 2009, the producers announced another change in the format with all four couples departing, cutting down to just one couple and shortening the show to just 60 minutes. The show will now portray a more realistic side to what a marriage is, instead of "the painted image of marriage based on romance". For the first time, a real couple is cast in the show. Guest celebrities are invited to be show's commentators for each episode so that they can share their opinions on marriage on behalf of their age group. Kim Yong Jun and Hwang Jung Eum also do the interview room together dressed in wedding attire.
However, due to low ratings, the show returned to its old format with the addition of a make-believe couple actor Park Jae Jung and After School member Uee on August 2, 2009. For the Chuseok special, Brown Eyed Girls' Gain & 2AM's Jo Kwon and SG Wannabe's Lee Seok Hun & host Kim Na Young appeared as two new couples. The episode achieved Season II's highest rating, and Gain and Jo Kwon were announced to be a permanent couple.
Original couple
Kim Yong Jun & Hwang Jung Eum (Ep 1-31)
Additional couples
Park Jae Jung & Uee (Ep 12-31)
Jo Kwon & Gain (Ep 21-80)
Lee Seok Hun & Kim Na Young (Ep 21)
Lee Sun Ho & Hwangwoo Seul Hye (ep 32-42)
Jung Yong Hwa & Seohyun (ep 40-91)
Nichkhun & Victoria (ep 52-91)
Season 3
Further information: We Got Married (Season 3)
Season three officially begins on April 9, with two additional couples upon the departure of Yonghwa & Seohyun, as well as a new format. Park Hwi Sun and K.will are added for Season III to the cast as MCs.
In September 2011, new couple Leeteuk of Super Junior and actress Kang Sora joined the cast with their first episode airing on 24 September with guest appearances by fellow Super Junior members, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Kyuhyun and Sungmin; who continue to guest star for a few more episodes. On 14 May 2012, the show was temporarily cancelled, due to the long-running MBC strike, it was replaced by reruns and other special programs. The programme resumed on 16 June 2012, with production by an outside source. On 20 August 2012 the production team announced the departure of Ham Eun-jeong of T-ara and Lee Jang-woo, with their last broadcast episode aired on 25 August.[4] On August 30, 2012 MBC was announced that ZE:A's Hwang Kwanghee and SECRET's Han Sunhwa will be the new couple of the show.
Original couples
Nichkhun & Victoria (Ep 1-24)
Eunjung & Jang Woo (Ep 1-52)
Jalba & Park So-hyun | Ibu (Ep 1-38)
Additional couples
David Oh & Kwon Ri-sae (Ep 11-24)
Leeteuk & Kang Sora (Ep 25-61)
Season 4
Original couples
Julien Kang & Yoon Se-ah
Hwang Kwang Hee & Han Sunhwa
Lee Joon (Lee Chang Sun) & Oh Yeon Seo (Oh Haet Nim)
Controversies
In late March 2010, MBC stopped broadcast of new episodes due to labour strikes, with repeats airing instead. This event, compounded with the ROKS Cheonan sinking incident, which caused cancellation of most variety shows at the time, resulted in backlogged of recordings for Jo Kwon & Gain and Yonghwa & Seohyun couples. With the contents of their latest episodes which were recorded from a few months previously, instead of regular 1–2 weeks from the original.
Spin-Off
Pit-a-Pat Shake
MBC has announced a new show to be based off We Got Married. The emphasis of the show is not on married life but rather dating life. The producer taking charge is the original producer of We Got Married, circa couples Seo In Young and Crown J, and Shin Ae and Alex. The success of the earliest and most memorable couples has given people high hopes for the pilot. A Lunar Year Special will be done as pilot.
The female idols to be in the spin-off, now revealed to be called Pit-a-Pat Shake, are KARA's Seungyeon, After School's Lizzy, SISTAR's Hyorin, and SECRET's Sunhwa. Super Junior's Sungmin, is to be partnered with Hyorin. MBLAQ's Lee Joon was confirmed as Lizzy partner. Actor Lee Tae Sung will pair up with Kara's Han SeungYeon.
Chinese version
The Chinese version of We Got Married paired mainland and Korean celebrities. Out of the three couples, two featured Koreans: T-ara's Hyomin and Super Junior's Kyuhyun. It was produced by MBC to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Korea’s diplomatic ties with China. It aired as a Valentine's Day special in China on an entertainment channel of Shanghai Media Group and on MBC on 25 February but with only the Korean segments.
Couples
Hyomin & Fu Xinbo of BoBo
Kyuhyun & Lou Yi Xiao
MC Jin Wei & Zhu Chi Dan
Awards
Kim Hyun Joong and Hwang Bo won MBC's Best Couple Award on 29 December 2008.
Jo Kwon and Gain won 'Best Couple Award' and 'Rookies Variety Award' for their roles in We Got Married for MBC Entertainment Awards 2010.
Yonghwa & Seohyun and Nichkhun & Victoria couple both won 'Popularity Award' for MBC Entertainment Awards 2010.
Affiliated works
Alex's rendition of Loveholic's "화분" ("Flowerpot") was released as a digital single on May 6, 2008 and was included on his solo album.
Aside from "Too Much", Crown J also featured in "I Like That" on Seo In Young's album. He made a cameo appearance in Jewelry's "모두 다 쉿!" ("Everyone, Shh!") MV.
Lee Si Young featured on Jun Jin's 2nd solo album "Fascination" in the track "바보처럼" ("Like A Fool"). She starred in his "Hey Ya!" MV and its sequel "지지리" ("Awfully") by Beige.
Kim Yong Jun released a song "커플 (Couple)" featuring Hwang Jung Eum in June 2009.
Jo Kwon and Gain released a duet titled "우리 사랑하게 됐어요 (We Fell in Love)" on December 16, 2009.
Jo Kwon released "고백하던 날 (The Day I Confessed)", which was partially composed during broadcast, on June 30, 2010.
On August 29, 2010, Yonghwa and Seohyun performed a medley of Run Devil Run and Love Light on Incheon Korean Music Wave 2010.
Nichkhun & Victoria performed a dance stage for MBC Gayo Daejun 2010.
Yonghwa & Seohyun uploaded their song Banmal Song on YouTube on 26 December 2010.
Yonghwa & Seohyun performed For First Time Lovers as a duet on "K-POP All Star Live in Niigata" in Niigata, Japan on August 20, 2011.
Jang Woo & Eunjung was featured in Zia's MV The Way I Am, and was released on September 29, 2011.
Adam, Khuntoria, WooJung, and Dimples couples were MC at 2011 MBC Music Festival (or 2011 MBC Gayo Daejun Festival) on December 31, 2011.
[edit]Dubbed couple names
Apart from the abbreviated names given by the fans, a few of the couples earned unique nicknames that were officially used in the show.
Season I
Alex & Shin Ae
로맨틱커플 (Romantic couple) - Alex's romantic events and antics made them the first of the couples to become vastly popular, even prompting their return to the show (the only couple to do so).
Crown J & In Young
개미커플 (Ant couple) - MC Kim Won Hee remarked in one of the earlier episodes of Crown J's resemblance to an ant because of his skinhead haircut.
A! couple - Crown J's famous inverted upside down 'peace' sign and his exclamation of "A!" in their theme song Too Much.
Hyun Joong & Hwang Bo
쌍추커플 (Lettuce couple) - Hyun Joong's continuous mispronunciation of 'lettuce' (Sshangchu 쌍추 instead of Sangchu 상추) on their honeymoon in Jeju island and throughout the series.
Hwan Hee & Hwa Yobi
개똥부부 (Dog Poopie couple) - At the beach, Hwayobi steps on sand and insists that it was dog poop. An amused Hwanhee dubs her 'Dog Poopie' as a term of endearment.
Marco & Dam Bi
Killer couple - Due to Marco's limited Korean, in the first few episodes he repeatedly uses "killer!" to praise Dam Bi.
Kang-In & Yoon Ji
도토리묵부부 (Acorn Jelly couple) - After their first meeting while passing the Han River, Yoonji remarks how she has always thought the waves remind her of acorn jelly. Kangin says he has always thought the same, much to her disbelief. It is later revealed in a radio interview recorded before they met that he was telling the truth.
Hyung Don & TaeYeon
젤리푸딩커플 (Jelly Pudding couple) - Named due to Hyungdon's nickname "Pudding" and Taeyeon's liking for jelly confectionery (usually jelly worms).
Jun Jin & Si Young
건담 커플 (Gundam couple) - Si Young's favourite toy and television series that she enthusiastically collects and talks about, much to Jun Jin's disinterest.
Season II
Park Jae Jung & UEE
캐러멜부부 (Caramel couple) - Dubbed after Jaejung gives Uee a caramel candy at their first meeting.
Jo Kwon & Gain
아담부부 (Adam couple) - Dubbed by Jinwoon and Seulong, initially as "Adam-Eve couple" due to their mutual relationship inexperience, but changed to * "Adam-Adam couple" due to their small appearances ("Adam" is pronounced the same as the Korean term for "little/small").
Yonghwa & Seohyun
용서커플 (YongSeo Couple) - Named by MC's and fans by using the first letters of their names, meaning "forgiveness" because of the intense disapproval after they were announced to be the newest couple.
고구마부부 (Goguma Couple) - Dubbed when Seohyun was to rate the husband by either saying sweet potato (because of her fondness for sweet potatoes) or hamburger (because she finds hamburgers unhealthy).
초딩커플 (Choding Couple) - Dubbed because of their childish jealousy and arguments.
음악커플(Musical Couple) - Dubbed because of their fond of playing musical instruments like guitar and piano.
도보커플 (Walk-around Couple) - Because they are always seen walking down the street instead of riding a car.
기러기부부(Seagull Couple) - Because Yonghwa wrote, "We're always a seagull couple," on the knitting photobook that he gave Seohyun.
Nichkhun & Victoria Song
삼겹살커플 (Samgyeopsal couple) - Named after Nichkhun finding Victoria, where he had to ask what her favorite food was, which was samgyeopsal.
쿤토리아 (Khuntoria) - Acknowledged by Nichkhun and Victoria as their official Korean couple name.
维尼夫妇 (Winnie Couple) - Acknowledged by both as their official Chinese couple name.
("International Couple") - Because they hail from different countries, Nichkhun from Thailand and Victoria from China.
("No-Hands Couple") - Because they are often seen performing tasks for each other from eating to washing hands.
Season III
Lee Jang Woo & Ham Eun Jung
우정 커플 (WooJung Couple) - Named by MCs and fans by combining the first/last letters of their names respectively, meaning "friendship" due to their friendly nature.
캐임붓 커플 (Campus Couple) - Named according to the same college they are attending currently.
("Pepero Couple") - Named after the many pepero kiss attempts.
("Medical Pad Couple") - Named in their episode 27 where they put medical pads on each other after a long day of shooting.
Kim Won Joon & Park So Hyun:
용감한 커플 (Brave Couple) - They are called brave couple because they've known each other for 18 years and people say that there's "absolutely zero fakeness involved" in the way they treat each other on-cam.
Leeteuk & Kang Sora
("Dimples Couple") - MC Park Mi Sun commented on their second episode that they both had dimples.
(Teukso Couple) - A combination of their first names.
리더부부 ("Leader Couple") - They called themselves the leader couple because Leeteuk is Super Junior's leader, and Sora acted as a leader in the movie Sunny as well.
(Piano Couple) - They showed their piano skills in some episodes of the show and they were both great.
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Awesome summary! Will you add the season 4 couples there too? I really love these relationship variety shows, it gives you a chance to see how each idol interact with each other and how they get along. The show is very good but there are a lot of issues that bring upon it with fans and such. I wrote a post about it on my blog and I hope you will view and comment when you have the time! http://nynyonlinex.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/issues-with-relationship-variety-shows/
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