"Noona" romances or relationships where older women are involved with younger men have been gaining popularity both on and off-screen. On August 26, the increase of this trend was substantiated by the announcement that actor Ahn Yong Joon was engaged to marry vocalist Venny.
According to a report published by Sports Donga, Venny is 37-years-old while Ahn is 28-years-old, placing their age difference at nine years. The article went on to state that the couple had been dating for four years after meeting through mutual friends. The couple set their wedding date for September 19.
Ahn debuted in the 2006 SBS drama "Love and Ambition." He experienced increased popularity with his guest appearances on "God's Quiz" before taking on the supporting role of Jin Il Do in the Lee Joong Gi led drama, "Two Weeks." He has demonstrated strong acting through his film roles in "How to Use Guys with Secret Tips" and the critically-acclaimed flick, "Half."
Venny emerged as a figure within Korean entertainment as a member of Sang Sang Band. She debuted with the group in 2004 and has since pursued several projects ranging from solo vocals to teaching. While the bulk of her career has been focused on music, Venny gained attention from domestic audiences for her portrayal of the character Pink in "200 Pounds Beauty."
Venny previously dated actor Lee Seung Hyo. In September 2010, the pair announced the end of two-year their relationship.
The impending marriage of Venny and Ahn reflects a trend in real-life noona romances. Recent statistics show an increase in first marriages where the groom is younger than the bride. A previous report published by KDramaStars explored this phenomena which played out in K-Dramas like "Producer."
While the love line between Gong Hyo Jin and Kim Soo Hyun did not result in a happy ending, "I Need Romance 3" provided a different conclusion. Sung Joon and Kim So Yeon were an on-screen couple in "I Need Romance 3" and were together through the end of the series, even though they are separated by a real-life age gap of nine years.
