Dr. Diana Seaok Kim and Ian Kim’s relationship began with a chance encounter on the dating app Hinge in September 2022, leading to a courtship characterized by long-distance communication and shared cultural ties. Both Korean American, Diana was pursuing a psychiatry residency at Boston University, while Ian was a remote consultant based in Massachusetts.

Diana, 29, was born in Daegu, South Korea, and moved to Los Angeles at age seven. She later earned a degree in biological sciences from Columbia University before obtaining her medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. Ian, 27, grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts, and completed his Bachelor of Science in business and technology management at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering. He works for EPAM, an engineering consulting firm headquartered in Pennsylvania.

Their initial exchange on Hinge was met with some delay, as Ian was moving into a new apartment and did not immediately notice Diana’s message. When he returned to the app a week later, he was drawn to her profile’s eloquence and the fact that both shared Korean heritage and professional ambitions. The pair soon arranged a lunch date at a Thai restaurant in Somerville, Massachusetts, where their connection deepened over conversations about their experiences and interests. The date concluded with a visit to an ice cream shop in Harvard Square.

Despite naturally feeling nervous, Ian said he wanted to make a good impression, while Diana appreciated his candidness and passion for video games. Their second date featured a live music concert in Cambridge, during which the couple endured an awkward first kiss that they both recall with humor. Subsequent dates solidified their relationship, including an outing to another concert where they officially became a couple.

Time constraints, particularly Diana’s demanding medical schedule, required them to rely heavily on late-night FaceTime calls and long commutes to maintain their bond. Two years into their relationship, an incident brought them closer when Ian was hospitalized for anaphylaxis related to a reaction to a new protein powder. Diana visited him after a 12-hour shift, an act Ian later cited as a defining moment in their commitment.

In September 2025, Ian moved into Diana’s apartment in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Nearly two years later, he proposed at Singing Beach in Massachusetts during a sunrise visit, a location meaningful to both.

The couple was married on August 29 at the Endicott Estate in Dedham, Massachusetts, surrounded by 120 guests. Their ceremony featured music reflecting their tastes: Diana walked down the aisle to Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” while Ian was escorted by “Littleroot Town,” a favorite piece from the Pokémon video game series. The service was officiated by Kezia Bacon, ordained through the Universal Brotherhood Movement Inc.