Veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung (78) has publicly shared that her eldest son is gay—and that he is happily married.

In a recent interview with People magazine while promoting her new film The Wedding Banquet (directed by Andrew Ahn), Youn candidly spoke about her personal life and how it connects deeply to the story portrayed in the film.

💬 "My eldest son is gay"

"This film is very personal to me," she said.

"My eldest son is gay, so I was able to draw from my own experiences."

Youn revealed that some of the film's dialogue was based directly on real conversations she had with her son, adding that she had shared those moments with director Andrew Ahn during production.

In a separate interview with Variety, Youn referenced a poignant line in the movie—"Whoever you are, you're still my grandchild"—which she helped write based on her own experience.

🇺🇸 Wedding in New York, Private in Korea

In her interview with South China Morning Post, Youn recalled:

"My son came out to me in 2000. When same-sex marriage was legalized in New York, he got married there. We kept it private in Korea, so the family traveled to New York for the ceremony."

She added, with a warm laugh,

"Now, I think I love my son-in-law more than my son."

While aware of how conservative Korean society may react to her openness, she admitted,

"People might want to throw books at me."

🎬 About the Film
The Wedding Banquet, released in North America on April 18, is a dramedy centered on a gay man who fakes a traditional marriage, leading to a chaotic cultural collision. Youn Yuh-jung plays the grandmother—a role filled with both humor and heart.