It has been nearly a decade since Yook Sungjae and Park Soo-young—better known as Joy—stepped onto that rooftop to meet for the first time. Honestly, it’s wild. Most "reality" couples from that era of Korean television have faded into a blur of scripted dates and awkward fan service, yet We Got Married Sungjae and Joy remains this weirdly untouchable cultural touchstone. Even now, in 2026, TikTok edits of their "Bbyu Couple" era pull millions of views from fans who weren't even old enough to watch the original broadcast on MBC.
Why?
Maybe because it didn't feel like a job. Usually, when you pair two rising idols from massive groups like BTOB and Red Velvet, the PR teams are hovering just off-camera, making sure everything stays perfectly "idol-safe." But with Sungjae and Joy, the energy was different. It was chaotic. It was loud. It was genuinely uncomfortable in that specific way first loves usually are.
The Casting Gamble That Actually Worked
When the news first broke in June 2015 that the BTOB maknae and Red Velvet’s lead rapper were joining the show, the K-pop world basically imploded. Sungjae was fresh off the success of Who Are You: School 2015, and Joy was right in the middle of "Ice Cream Cake" promotions. They were the "Youngest Couple" the show had ever seen at the time—20 and 19 years old, respectively.
Most people expected a cute, shy, "yes-sunbaenim" dynamic. Instead, we got Joy.
Joy was a revelation on this show. She completely flipped the traditional script of the "shy bride." From the first episode, she was the one initiating eye contact, dropping bold compliments, and making Sungjae—usually a chaotic prankster himself—completely crumble into a blushing mess. It’s that subversion of expectations that made We Got Married Sungjae and Joy so addictive. You weren't watching a scripted romance; you were watching a very confident young woman test the boundaries of a very flustered young man.
Small Moments That Weren't in the Script
Think back to the "ear piercing" episode. If you’ve seen it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Joy was terrified. She wasn't acting. You could see the genuine physiological stress, and Sungjae, for all his goofiness, shifted into this protective, quiet support role that felt incredibly grounded.
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Then there was the trip to Hainan.
They were wearing those ridiculous matching outfits, the kind of thing that usually makes viewers cringe. But they leaned into the absurdity. Their chemistry wasn't built on grand cinematic gestures. It was built on their shared sense of humor—the "Bbyu" nickname itself was a bit of a joke that just stuck. They were two kids who found out they actually liked each other's brand of weirdness.
The Reality of Reality TV
We have to be honest here: We Got Married was a variety show. It had writers. It had "missions" delivered in red envelopes. It had a filming schedule that lasted months.
Yet, the Bbyu couple managed to make the production feel invisible. They fought about things that felt real—like Sungjae's inability to express his feelings or Joy's desire for more outward affection. These weren't high-stakes dramas; they were the micro-frictions of two people learning how to be "together" in front of a camera crew.
The show's format often felt dated even back then. By the time 2015 rolled around, audiences were getting tired of the "fake marriage" trope. Ratings were dipping. The show needed a spark. Sungjae and Joy didn't just provide a spark; they basically carried the franchise on their backs for 45 episodes. Their run was one of the longest in the show’s history, and for good reason. They were profitable. They were likable. They were, quite simply, "it."
The Cultural Impact of the "Bbyu" Brand
It wasn't just about the TV show. The duo eventually released a duet titled "Young Love." It wasn't some over-produced ballad designed to sweep the charts (though it did well). It felt like a diary entry. The music video, which they helped direct/concept, showcased their specific brand of domestic chaos.
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- The "Best Couple" Award: They took home the Best Couple prize at the 2015 MBC Entertainment Awards.
- Brand Deals: Their individual and joint popularity skyrocketed, leading to solo CFs (commercials) that leveraged their "Bbyu" image.
- Global Reach: This was one of the first couples to truly go viral on international social media platforms before the current "Hallyu Wave" was fully established.
That Ending (And Why We’re Still Not Over It)
May 7, 2016. That’s the date their final episode aired.
It was brutal.
Ending a run on We Got Married is always a bit melancholy, but the Bbyu couple’s departure felt like a real breakup. They held a "Bbyu Syu" concert for each other. Joy sang "Baby Baby" to Sungjae, and for the first time in nearly a year of filming, the masks completely slipped. Sungjae, who spent most of the show trying to be the "cool guy," was visibly devastated.
The most telling part about We Got Married Sungjae and Joy isn't what happened during the show, but what happened after. Unlike many couples who immediately distance themselves to avoid dating rumors, these two have always spoken of each other with immense respect. When Joy appeared on Sugar Man 2 and Sungjae was a guest, or when they’ve crossed paths at award shows, there’s a visible, genuine fondness. It’s not the "we’re secretly dating" vibe fans want—it’s something better. It’s the vibe of two people who went through a very strange, very public "war" together and came out as lifelong allies.
Addressing the "Scripted" Rumors
Look, of course there was a script. Or at least, a storyboard.
Producers would tell them, "Today you’re going to a traditional village." But they couldn't script Sungjae’s ears turning bright red every time Joy got within six inches of his face. They couldn't script the way Joy’s laugh changed when she was actually amused versus when she was just "on" for the camera.
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Expert viewers—the ones who have analyzed every frame—point to the "off-camera" moments caught in the background of behind-the-scenes vlogs. You see them chatting quietly, sharing snacks, looking like two people who actually enjoy each other's company when the "Red Envelope" missions weren't active. That’s the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) of the Bbyu legacy. The experience was shared, the expertise was in their chemistry, and the trust they built with the audience was real.
Why the Bbyu Couple Still Matters in 2026
We live in an era of hyper-curated idol content. Everything is a "challenge" or a 15-second TikTok. The long-form, slow-burn development of We Got Married Sungjae and Joy is something we just don't get anymore. We don't get to see idols sit in a room for four hours just talking.
Their legacy is a reminder that K-pop idols are, at the end of the day, people. They are young, they are awkward, and they are capable of forming deep connections that transcend their "brand."
If you're looking to revisit the series or you're a new fan wondering where to start, don't just watch the highlights. Watch the "boring" episodes. Watch the ones where they’re just grocery shopping or cleaning their apartment. That’s where the magic is.
How to Relive the Bbyu Era Properly
If you're diving back into the rabbit hole, here is the most effective way to consume their story without getting lost in the "fan-edit" noise:
- Watch the MBC Entertainment "Clipped" series: These are high-definition versions of their best moments, often with updated subtitles.
- Listen to "Young Love" first: It sets the emotional tone for their entire arc.
- Track the BTOB/Red Velvet crossovers: Look for the moments during award shows (like the 2015 MBC Gayo Daejejeon) where their respective groups interacted. It adds a layer of "real world" context to their "married" life.
- Read the translated interviews: Look for the solo interviews Sungjae and Joy did in 2016 and 2017 where they mention the show. Their reflections as "adults" provide a lot of closure.
The Bbyu couple wasn't just a segment on a variety show. It was a moment in time where two of the industry's brightest stars were allowed to be human together. And that is why, no matter how many new "ships" emerge, we always go back to Sungjae and Joy.
Check out the official MBC archives for the full episodes, as many third-party sites have degraded quality or missing segments that cut out the crucial "inner-view" portions where they explain their true feelings. Focusing on those interviews gives you the best insight into what was actually going through their heads during the most iconic scenes. Once you've finished the series, compare their "married" personas to their current roles in dramas like The Golden Spoon or The One and Only—the growth in their acting and maturity makes the Bbyu era feel even more like a precious, contained time capsule of their youth.