Nguyen Khanh Huyen, 27, Hai Phong City, grew up in a broken family. Watching her parents constantly argue and enduring cold, tense family meals where everyone only cared about their own emotions left deep scars on both Huyen and her younger sister.

Huyen recalled that whenever her parents separated, the two sisters would be sent to live with their maternal grandparents. Although they were loved and cared for, she always felt a painful lack of family affection.

When Huyen was 15, her parents officially divorced. She and her sister moved in permanently with their grandparents. Determined to become independent, she focused on studying hard so she could one day support herself financially.

“I studied Korean and became an interpreter before later moving into business. Life was not always smooth. Whenever I faced difficulties, I felt lonely because I couldn’t truly connect with my family,” Huyen shared.

In 2019, Huyen met a man she trusted enough to lean on emotionally. However, after their engagement ceremony in 2022, she discovered she had been betrayed. Unable to accept his mistake, she left the relationship in tears.

In 2024, Huyen opened her heart once again. The man she dated treated her with special care and attention. Yet after their formal family meeting, she decided to call off the wedding herself after realizing they differed too greatly in personality and life values.

“After those failed relationships, I no longer had any intention of getting married,” she said.

Still, in mid-2025, a special twist of fate completely changed Khanh Huyen’s perspective on love and marriage. That man was Kim Ji Hoon (41, from South Korea).

Ji Hoon is the founder of a health-related business in Korea. The couple met when he came to Vietnam to explore the market while Huyen worked as a marketing consultant for his company.

The Korean businessman was deeply impressed by the personality and strength of the Vietnamese woman who was 14 years younger than him. Realizing she was the life partner he had been searching for, he straightforwardly expressed his serious intention to pursue marriage.

Huyen was surprised. Through their conversations, she sensed his sincerity but still firmly insisted that “work and romance should remain separate.” In response, Ji Hoon decided to end their business partnership so he could openly pursue the woman he truly liked.

“During the three months we spent talking, what impressed me most was the warmth and gentleness in the way he spoke about his family. I knew this was a man who had grown up in a happy home, something I had longed for my entire life,” Huyen said.

She was not afraid to tell him about her past, from her parents’ divorce to her two broken relationships. Instead of judging her, he simply held her in his arms and comforted her, saying, “Let’s not bring up the past anymore.” His gentle acceptance touched her deeply.

In January 2026, Huyen traveled to Korea with her boyfriend to visit his family. After that trip, she became certain she had found the right place to entrust her happiness.

“His father is 70 and his mother is 67. They welcomed me with a warm home-cooked meal. His father kindly asked, ‘Can you handle the cold?’ and ‘How is your work going?’ Meanwhile, his mother kept putting food onto my plate. His younger sister, even though she was married, had a small child, and lived over an hour away, still made the effort to come to meet me.

Two days later, which happened to be my birthday, his mother prepared a small party so the whole family could celebrate together. In 27 years of my life, it was the first time I had ever celebrated a birthday with what felt like a real family,” Huyen said emotionally.

The warmth and care among her boyfriend’s family members made Huyen feel emotionally healed. She especially loved their evening family walks after dinner and was deeply touched whenever his parents prepared coats and scarves for her before going outside.

Without realizing it, she began wishing she could become part of that family.

Two months later, Ji Hoon’s parents visited Vietnam to meet Huyen’s family and better understand her circumstances.

Ji Hoon suddenly turned and embraced her, saying “You’ve been lonely and struggled for so long. From now on, you have a happy family.” At that moment, Huyen burst into tears.

Linh Trang