JOSH KIM & MARY BUENAVENTURA

A real Korean-Filipino love story, worthy of a K-drama

- MILLET M. MANANQUIL

"I love you, Jagi." This is what a Korean tells his Filipino sweetheart (jagi) every night before they sleep. And she says, "I love you, Appa (daddy)" in return. This is not a K-drama, but a real love story I am about to tell you.

The oppa (read: crush) is the good-looking Josh Kim, whose Korean name is Moo Hyung Kim. But he is better known by friends and admirers as a lookalike of Gong Yoo, because he – with his flawless skin and tall, handsome persona – looks like a younger version of the Korean superstar. Josh was a stage actor in Korea who now takes the role of husband and father more seriously.

"But I am older than Gong Yoo," says the humble Josh who played a cameo role in the Netflix movie Secret Ingredient starring Julia Barretto.

The Philippine beauty (rather, read: beauty and brains) is his wife Mary Buenaventura, well known in the media industry as the dynamic president/CEO of Omnicom Media Group Philippines. "I love my profession. I am passionate about leading the business with a client-first and people-first approach. I also advocate for diversity and champion women at work. However, my husband and my son are the 'whys' in my life that drive me to be passionate in what I do."

Their love story began seven years ago when they met in Seoul.

Mary recalls: "We met at a coffee shop on a spring afternoon during a trip to Seoul with a friend. He was wearing a suit and a long coat with his beautiful shining skin. It was his smile that sealed it. He has the most beautiful smile. He is kind, funny, simple and humble and a good son to his parents – qualities that I am drawn to."