EJAE, the Korean American singer-songwriter behind the music of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, has married music producer and composer Samuel Kim. The couple exchanged vows on October 17 at Stage 28 in Seoul, a garden venue built on the former residence of EJAE’s maternal grandfather, veteran actor Shin Young-kyun.
The wedding was originally planned for November in California, but EJAE and Kim moved it to Korea and brought the date forward to October. “At first, we planned a November 2026 wedding in California, but ultimately after discussing location, we decided to hold it in Korea and moved the date up to October 2026. That left us about four months to plan everything,” says the bride. “It was hectic and a little stressful, but it was real teamwork, and everything has fallen into place perfectly.”
For EJAE, Stage 28 was more than a wedding location. Her grandparents once lived there, and the property holds some of her earliest memories of Seoul.
“My grandparents lived in the house at the venue when I was a little girl,” she says. “I spent much of my childhood exploring the garden and walking with my grandfather in the hills behind the house.”
The home and property were later purchased and turned into an event venue. EJAE’s brother had already married at Stage 28, making the location an especially meaningful choice for the family.
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The celebrations began with a Paebaek ceremony and welcome party at Congdu50, a Korean fusion restaurant with views of the city. “Not everyone does Paebaek, but we wanted to have that traditional element as part of our wedding,” Ejae says.
The garden ceremony’s décor drew on the shades of green and earthy tones of the property’s landscape and EJAE’s childhood memories. The reception was then held in the venue’s large glasshouse, which the bride envisioned filled with soft fabrics and flowing drapes for an ethereal atmosphere.
“The glasshouse represents my life today—a time when the dreams I worked toward for so long are becoming reality,” says the artist. “After years of dedication to music, the recognition I am experiencing makes this chapter feel almost like a dream.”
Read more: EJAE Celebrates Korean Diaspora; Honoured at Gyopo’s Chuseok Benefit
EJAE wore a custom strapless tulle gown by Danielle Frankel for the ceremony, with a bubbled hem and nude chiffon layering. “I had long admired Danielle’s modern, but slightly twisted take on a classic wedding dress, and I knew I wanted to reach out to see if she would be interested in working with me on a custom dress,” she says. “From our first meeting, Danielle immediately understood my vision: ethereal, modern, chic, and timeless with a twist.”
“I kept my jewellery simple so the dress could make the statement,” adds the bride. She paired the gown with heirloom jewellery passed down from her grandmother to her mother.
For the reception, EJAE changed into a custom, body-skimming design by Zac Posen. “The dress is chiffon, like the ceremony gown, so the ethereal feeling carries over into the next chapter of the night,” she says. “Zac brought me to my first-ever CFDA Awards in 2025, and our creative partnership has only blossomed since,” Ejae shares. “Zac perfectly executed the vision I had for the reception dress, ‘wow factor, with a sparkle.’”
She later changed into a shimmering Milla Nova mini for dancing. Kim wore a bespoke double-breasted Loro Piana tuxedo from Bhambi’s Custom Tailors, followed by a custom white Posen tuxedo for the reception.
The couple first met in May 2017 through a mutual friend, who set them up for a songwriting session at Kim’s home studio. “We worked on a couple of songs, but mostly, we just connected,” Ejae recalls. “We both loved anime and the same kind of music.”
The pair kept things professional until a night out to see Kim’s roommate’s band perform. “Later that night, [he] confessed his feelings,” the singer says. “We’ve been together ever since.”
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Kim proposed in Brooklyn on June 1, 2025, with a surprise picnic arranged alongside EJAE’s best friend. “I had caught on about a week before,” adds Ejae. “Still, it was fun and memorable, and I cried.”
“Instead, Sam brought me to a park in Brooklyn where we spent so much time together, walking Honey, my late dog. He suggested a walk through to go down memory lane,” remembers Ejae. “When we turned a corner, all our friends had set up a picnic with photos of us and our dog all around.”
The wedding came amid a whirlwind period following the success of KPop Demon Hunters, for which EJAE provided the singing voice for protagonist Rumi and performed on the soundtrack. “Our lives changed completely,” says Ejae.
Read more: Netflix Says ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Sequel Is Set for “Broad Theatrical Release”
On the day itself, the couple focused on staying present with their loved ones. “I’ll never forget the feeling of walking down the aisle and seeing all of my closest friends and family members surrounding me with their love and support,” the bride says. “Sam and I had set intentions to try to stay in the moment and connect with each other and our guests. We definitely were both a bit nervous, but mostly excited to start our lives together as husband and wife.”
“There was so much joy to be shared,” says Ejae of the wedding day. “The ceremony was beautiful, heartfelt, and fun.”
The celebrations continued with speeches in English and Korean, a set from wedding band After Eight, and Korean street food tents outside the glasshouse. After the reception, EJAE and Kim headed to Itaewon with a small group to dance the night away.
“Honestly, we are so proud that we had fun at our wedding!” says the bride. “We are so thankful for each other and for our family and friends, especially given how many of our guests travelled across the world to celebrate with us!”
