A fateful second chance

In 2017, Nguyen Thi Nhung, born in 1987 and from Ha Tinh Province, ended a 12-year relationship with the man she had dated and married. At the time, their daughter had just turned two.

The breakup left Nhung devastated. With a young child and an uncertain future, she sometimes questioned her own decision. Only after regaining her composure did she realize that the marriage could not be saved.

“I was so disappointed that I thought I would spend the rest of my life living for my daughter and never marry again. All my rosy dreams about marriage had turned gray,” Nhung said.

In 2020, Nhung went to South Korea as a migrant worker to earn money to support her daughter. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her company did not renew her contract, forcing her to change her visa in order to remain in South Korea.

Her parents and child were still facing financial difficulties back home. She felt that returning would make their future even more uncertain, so she did her best to stay in South Korea.

At one point, she felt she needed someone to lean on. She confided in a close friend who was also living and married in South Korea and asked her to help arrange a match so that it would be easier for her to remain there. She was introduced to Lee Dong Kuk, 59, from Seoul.

“However, on the day we were supposed to meet, I canceled the date on my own because I did not want to enter a relationship without love.

Later, I heard that Dong Kuk had been excited about the date that day. He had dressed up and prepared what he wanted to say, only to receive my message canceling the meeting,” Nhung recalled.

Two years later, her close friend once again tried to bring the two together. The man she introduced was still Dong Kuk, the same man Nhung had previously stood up.

This time, Nhung decided to go to the meeting and not back out. She admitted that at the time, she felt insecure about her appearance and circumstances.

When she learned that Dong Kuk was 1.82 meters tall, good looking, financially secure and had a stable job, she felt even more strongly that they were not a good match.

Yet Dong Kuk had a different impression when he met the 1.53-meter-tall Vietnamese woman. He liked her sincerity and honesty. At the end of the date, he took the initiative to ask for her contact details. Nhung suddenly remembered what her friend had told her: “If he doesn't ask for your phone number, it means he isn't interested. If he does, it means he wants to get to know you.”

She gave him her number, and over time, witnessed the man's deep affection.

A happy marriage

At that time, she lived in a rural area 200 kilometers away from Dong Kuk's home. Every weekend, he drove three hours to see her. During the week, he texted and called regularly. Whenever she encountered paperwork issues, he enthusiastically assisted.

To demonstrate his serious intentions, he brought her to meet his mother. She learned that he had been divorced for over 10 years and had a 29-year-old son. For many years, he lived with his mother and took good care of her.

"His mother was gentle. Knowing I worked in the countryside, she felt deep empathy for me, and that affection brought me warmth,” she said.

In July 2022, she registered her marriage and moved in with Dong Kuk. In 2023, the couple returned to Vietnam to hold a wedding. Her family prepared a 100-table banquet, inviting relatives and neighbors to celebrate.

Nhung is 20 years younger than Dong Kuk, but the age gap never caused her hesitation. Nor did her family express doubts, as brief observation showed them how deeply he loved and protected her.

"He was surprised that a Vietnamese wedding was so lively, with everyone eating, singing from evening till late night, and bringing wine to congratulate the groom. That day, he was happy, joyful, and drunk," Nhung laughed as she recalled.

In late 2023, with her husband's support, she brought her daughter from her previous marriage to South Korea to raise her.

Reflecting on her 4-year marriage, Nhung happily shared: "I have a home filled with laughter and a husband who, I believe, would make any woman happy."

Thanh Minh