K-Idol Ryu Phillip, 34, Was Asked If His Wife, Shim Mina, 51, “Smells Like An Old Lady”; Has Sweetest Response

Korean star Shim Mina, 51, and her 34-year-old ex-boybander husband Ryu Phillip, 34, got married in 2018. Their relationship made headlines because of the large age gap. 

The couple has remain unbothered by the comments about their age difference. In fact, they thrive in it, even addresssing it in the bio of their YouTube channel. 

"We are 17 years apart married korean couple," they write in the 'About' box.

Ryu recently posted a video in which he responded to questions from netizens about their relationship. 

One particularly nasty question went: “Does [Mina] smell like an old lady?”.

While a less composed person would have lost his temper there and then, Ryu kept his calm and said: “There are a lot of comments like this. Perhaps the people who leave such comments are in their teens or early 20s, and they feel like a 50-year-old woman is an old lady."

He continued: "My Mina has never smoked, and as long as she’s healthy, there won’t be any smell. Mina doesn’t smell like an old lady. She gives off a floral scent, like flowers in bloom.”

Another mean comment targeted at Mina read: “Auntie, you’ll never have the body of a 20-year-old. No matter how hard you try, your figure can never compare to someone in their 20s.”

Ryu retorted: “She doesn’t take care of her figure to look like a 20 year old. It’s for her health. I’ve never dated anyone else who is in their 50s, but I can say that Mina’s physique is better than those who are 20. I hope you exercise as well so your figure can be like Mina’s in the future. All the best.”

Ryu has been praised for handling the rude comments with patience and grace, and for showing maturity with his responses.

Others were also moved by how he defended Mina, with many wishing that the couple will be spared from unnecessarily vicious comments in the future.

Watch Ryu's YouTube video below. (Note that it is only available in Korean.)