They will always remain here in these.

With growth comes the binding of meanings to objects. Each couple on We Got Married has their own items, moments, songs, etc., that become a symbol of their relationship. Of course, that applies to Alex and Shin Ae. Here, they’re all listed with the reasons why they’re just so complementary with this couple.

The Polaroids. So when Alex and Shin Ae first moved into their home on We Got Married, the first thing that the two did aside from unpacking, was to commemorate their meeting with good ol’ polaroid pictures. However, the polaroid camera resurfaces again and again as the show progresses, which leads it to become a running joke among the MCs.

What is special about the polaroids is that they’re a step back to basics. Rather than depending on digital cameras and more convenient, technical things, Alex and Shin Ae are fine with using something that’s a little older and even more expensive. (Polaroid film, really! And all those photos they took too. Couldn’t have been cheap.)

The Book. At the park on the day of their picnic and the cherry blossom watching, Alex presented a gift to Shin Ae, saying that he thought it was something “her level.” What he brought out was the book, I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak. As funny as he was with mentioning how the book was her level, he showed his true sincerity by reading out each page to her and then signing the book with a special message as a reminder of their first kiss—the surprising kiss on the forehead after Alex had made a fool of himself dancing for her.

What was it that he wrote to her?

“To Shin Ae… A girl whose heart is fragile and body is foolish. Shin Ae… In memory of our first kiss.”

The Kite. During the seventh episode of We Got Married, Alex and Shin Ae went to a park in order to enjoy a picnic and some kite-flying. Before taking their kite off to flight, the two each wrote a message on it concerning each other in hopes of allowing their wishes to fly sky high. Not sure what Alex wrote, what Shin Ae wrote was translated.

“Thank you for being with me and thanks for the good memories. Oppa, I’ll ask for your continuous care.”

Alex didn’t succeed in flying the kite though; he claimed there was no wind, but he was determined in getting it up there even if it meant running around the entire place. He probably wouldn’t have tried if she hadn’t placed so much meaning into the kite.

The Flowerpot. One can consider the eighth episode absolutely the climax of their relationship. It was the very episode where Alex broke the news to Shin Ae that he was leaving the show in order to complete his solo album. He was hoping to convey it to her through a song, specifically Loveholics “Flowerpot.” She sat in the studio as he was recording his cover version, and as soon as he finished, Alex could see that Shin Ae wasn’t interpreting it as how he intended at all. He then told her, although hesitantly, that he would have to leave, but he wished for another time for them to meet again. As a parting gift, Shin Ae received a flowerpot from him to take care of in his absence. In accordance to the song, the flowerpot is what Alex wished to be in order to watch over her. He said that he would come back, but in the meantime he wanted her to take care of that flowerpot. What a romantic gesture for a break-up!

After they reunited, Shin Ae timidly brought back the flowerpot to Alex, shocking him with its weak state. He asked if she had neglected it, but she defiantly objected with polaroids as proof to show that she was caring for it until it started wilting. She panicked and didn’t know what to do, guilting herself over the predicament. Alex willingly took the flowerpot back. Later on, the flowerpot made its return back to Shin Ae during the celebratory wedding photoshoot for the couple’s 100th day together. Shin Ae was amazed yet skeptical at the restored livelihood of the flowerpot, asking him if he bought a new one. But Alex said he cut off all the dead buds in order for it to grow again. They then proceeded to take photos with it, happy to know that their flowerpot was just as alive as their connection with each other.

One can see that the flowerpot has become Alex and Shin Ae’s symbol, with the melancholy song of longing and their potted child which needs both of their care to live. How can anyone thinking of anything else when they think of Alex and Shin Ae?

The Padlocks. On May 26, 2008, the day they filmed their return, Alex took Shin Ae to a place where couples hang their own padlocks on a wire with messages of endearment in hopes of securing their love forever. There, they also threw the keys far away (with much laughter at the prospects of giving some far-off passerby a concussion). It was reported that not soon after, the padlocks that were hung by them had been stolen. What had been written on each lock?

Alex’s message: “Alex ♥ Shin Ae… We are starting again. (In English) Once again… back at one.

Shin Ae’s message: “Always with happiness and smiles.” On the back, she wrote: “Sensitive boy Al-gun, please don’t get upset~!”

As delightfully sweet as this event was for the two, Alex claimed in an interview that his character was constructed by the production team. Although this comment led to netizens to believe that Alex was a fake, he really directed this thought to the padlocks.

The Cakes. So far, there have been two cakes that Alex and Shin Ae have given to one another with wishes of happiness. The first cake was presented in the second episode at the dinner table. The two had picked it out earlier, but Alex had prepared it to read “Destiny” on the cake in hangul: 인연. He explained that he chose those characters because, when you read them in reverse, they spell out “Lovers” (연인). Clever, isn’t it?

During the nineteenth episode, Alex took Shin Ae to see his workplace at MBC radio. She left to go to the bathroom, but in actuality she had gone to retrieve a present for him! She came back with a cute song and the cake with a single candle on it. For him, she wished for him to be a great DJ who would give good advice, joy, and happiness, to his listeners. (You should hear her come in with her little fanfare. She’s the cutest!)