Lia Kim’s Partner Explains Why They Have Not Married After 19 Years

The October 4 episode of EBS documentary series Witnessing the Era focused on choreographer Lia Kim, CEO of dance creative company 1MILLION. She discussed a difficult period in her career and the pressure she felt after achieving success in dance competitions. In the 2000s, she rose to prominence in popping and locking, winning numerous international competition trophies.

Kim said she became preoccupied with staying at the top. In 2011, she lost a popping battle to a teenage boy in China and was eliminated in the round of 32. The defeat affected her deeply, and she considered leaving dance. She said the resulting slump lasted around seven to eight years, continuing until shortly before she established 1MILLION.

The episode also showed Kim at home with her two dogs and Yoon Yeo Wook, her partner of 19 years and business partner. Yoon said he had seen her experience intense anxiety as her competitive success began to fade. He added that this was one reason they did not marry: he did not want marriage to lead others to label her an “ajumma,” and wanted her to continue working as a younger, beautiful artist.