MoonOne, the fiancé of Koyote’s Shinji (43), says he retreated from public view amid a wave of speculation and backlash that followed their wedding announcement, adding that the toll it took left him feeling deeply sorry to her.
In a video titled “The Things We Haven’t Been Able to Say,” posted Sept. 25 on Shinji’s YouTube channel, MoonOne (36) shared, “I’ve gotten a little brighter. For a while, I avoided going out and kept my distance from people. Shinji kept me afloat―she comforted me and stood by me. She must’ve been struggling too, and I was so grateful.”
Ahead of a wedding planned for the first half of next year, the couple moved to a house outside the city, where they’ve been tending the yard and getting to know neighbors. “Sometimes I’d look up at the sky and send Shinji little ‘stay strong’ texts,” he added.
Addressing backlash sparked by his awkward wording in a video breaking the news to Koyote bandmates Bbaekga and Kim Jong-min, he explained, “I thought if I just stuck to what I’d written, I’d be fine―but I was so nervous I made mistakes. I feel like I made things even harder for Shinji, and I’m sorry.”
He grew emotional recalling what happened next: after that video, Shinji took an anti-anxiety med before her first performance―a detail he only discovered later while watching footage. Worried he’d blame himself, she hadn’t told him at the time. “I took it to steady myself,” Shinji reassured him, as he wiped away tears.
Shinji also revealed their first meeting was tied to a past stalking incident. “An exec at my company saw a man outside my place blasting my songs and singing along. Turns out he’d come by multiple times, and the police were called. He had pieced together my address from photos and clips my stylist and friends posted on social. That’s when MoonOne carefully checked the area around my home, and I was so grateful,” she said.
Having weathered a rough stretch together, the two say they’re focused on showing up for each other. “So now I try even harder,” MoonOne said. “I prep her morning meds, and even if I’m not the most delicate, I do the housework with my whole heart.” Shinji added, “He’s not flashy with words, but I feel his sincerity.”
MoonOne previously disclosed he’s divorced and has a child. After their announcement, rumors swirled―from alleged unlicensed real-estate brokering to school bullying and hazing during his military service―all of which he denied. A legal YouTuber even suggested Shinji protect her assets with a marital property agreement. As some commenters piled on, Shinji pushed back: “That won’t be happening, and off-topic comments on my feed are politely declined.”
The pair first connected on MBC Radio and began dating late last year. They’re aiming to wed in the first half of next year, with Shinji noting, “We’re not rushing. Please watch us and cheer us on.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)