Venerable Pomnyun, who officiated at actors Shin Mina and Kim Woo-bin's wedding, released the full text of his address, which captured the couple's bond. He recounted an anecdote in which Shin Mina carried an offering of rice on her head and prayed for Kim Woo-bin's recovery during his illness, and urged them to respect each other.
Jungto Society posted the full address on its website on the 23rd. Venerable Pomnyun said, "Woo-bin once faced difficulties because his health was poor, and Mina went with rice for an offering on her head to pray together beyond religion before Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva on Namsan in Gyeongju."
He went on, "Afterward, Woo-bin regained his health, and the fact that the two are here today, holding hands and promising to marry and live their lives together, is truly the result of a deep connection." He also noted Shin Mina's long record of good deeds, introducing her by saying, "Mina has a warm and kind heart, and for more than 10 years she has consistently sponsored efforts to help poor children."
Kim Woo-bin halted activities in 2017 while battling nasopharyngeal cancer but returned after receiving a full recovery diagnosis in 2019 under Shin Mina's care. Venerable Pomnyun said, "I hope you will keep two things firmly in mind: respect that recognizes differences and understanding of the other," urging them to be a couple who fulfills their social responsibility. The two, who have been dating since 2015, tied the knot on the 20th.
◇ Full text of the wedding address
First, congratulations on your marriage. I have known both of you for a long time. Mina has a warm and kind heart, and for more than 10 years she has consistently sponsored efforts to help poor children. In particular, she provided a great deal of support to ease the hardships of defectors who came from North to South Korea. The children who came with these defectors often fail to adapt to Korean society and are frequently ostracized at school, and she has always supported after-school programs that care for those children. Woo-bin once faced difficulties because his health was poor, and Mina went with rice for an offering on her head to pray together beyond religion before Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva on Namsan in Gyeongju. Afterward, Woo-bin regained his health, and the fact that the two are here today, holding hands and promising to marry and live their lives together, is truly the result of a deep connection.
However, living together is not easy. How wonderful it would be if you could always feel as you do today. In life, differences in views arise, and conflicts come from them. Most people think that when you marry, because you like each other, you must be the same. As a result, marriage has its joys, but it often restricts individual freedom. That is why the desire to leave can arise. To overcome this, a married couple should not only seek the warmth of relying on each other, but also highly respect individual freedom.
A marriage where a half and a half come together to make a person becomes a full moon with a crack down the middle. But when a whole and a whole meet to become a full moon, there is no crack down the middle. Then a complete union becomes possible. And even if separation comes for some reason, I hope you will become two people who can each stand as a whole without suffering the pain of losing a half. I hope your marriage will not be a shackle, but one that makes each other more free.
Most people think love is liking, but liking is often desire rather than love. When liking cools, it can turn into dislike or hatred. As Woo-bin just said in his vows, you must acknowledge each other's differences. No matter how married you are, your thoughts can differ, your feelings can differ, your beliefs can differ, and your views can differ. Acknowledging what is different is called "respect." In other words, you must know how to respect the other.
Next, on the basis of acknowledging differences, it is necessary to understand the other by saying, "From the wife's position, that could be so," and "From the husband's position, that could be so." Love without understanding can at times turn into violence. Parents say they love their children, but for the children that can often be tremendous suffering. So love must always be grounded in understanding the other's position.
I hope you will keep two things firmly in mind: respect that acknowledges differences and understanding of the other. If I were to add one more, remember that love carries responsibility. Not only the responsibilities as a wife and as a husband, but you are also widely known people who receive the public's love in our society. So if a conflict arises between you, it does not end as a private matter between two people but affects our entire society. Therefore, you must always keep in mind the social responsibility that comes with the honor you hold. In addition to a husband's responsibility to a beloved wife and a wife's responsibility to a respected husband, it is essential that you also bear the social responsibility to live in a way that does not fall short of the love so many people feel for you.
To reiterate: First, for marriage to be not a shackle but a path to higher freedom, you must lean on each other while maintaining your individual independence. Second, it is necessary to respect and understand the other. This is true love. Third, in addition to the responsibilities of a wife and a husband, if you have children you must assume the responsibilities of parents, and because you are loved nationwide in our society, you must also remember to carry the social responsibility to live in a way that does not betray that love. If you always keep these points in mind, today's goodness will continue into even greater goodness in the future. Once again, congratulations on your marriage.