Pot and Nina’s proposal in Korea is the perfect testament to the magic of a well-planned surprise. Set in the daytime against the beautiful backdrop of a serene Korean garden, Pot’s proposal is the stuff of K-drama episodes. Here’s how it played out.
How They Got Together
Pot and Nina’s story begins back in 2015 during an internship. Nina had just graduated high school and Pot was nearing the end of his second year in college. It wasn’t love at first sight, though. In fact, Nina thought Pot was intimidating, and she wasn’t a fan of him. But life, as it usually does, had other plans.
“Nina didn’t like me at all during our internship!” Pot laughs as he recalls their first encounter. But fate had its own plans when Pot was tasked with becoming Nina’s “guardian” in a college organization they both joined. Nina had no choice but to spend more time with Pot as part of their responsibilities. Eventually, the awkwardness melted away.
“We ended up texting each other every day,” says Nina. “And the next thing I knew, we were inseparable.”
By the end of Nina’s first year in college, they were officially a couple. From there, their love only grew stronger. Pot knew early on that Nina was the one, and he had a clear idea of what their future together would look like.
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The Perfect Proposal Plan
Fast forward to a few years later, when Pot decided the time had come for a proposal. He had already planned to marry Nina by 2025, but everything fell into place when he learned about Nina’s planned trip to Seoul. Pot immediately saw an opportunity to make the proposal even more unforgettable.
“I knew that I wanted it to be a place with good scenery,” Pot shares. “Sab, Nina’s good friend, suggested the Garden of Morning Calm, and I was sold… I actually spent hours looking through walking tours and videos of the place to find which spot had good scenery. I also went extra early (even before the garden opened) on the day of the proposal to scout the place out based on my shortlisted spots until I found the spot.”
He began preparing well in advance, working with Sab to arrange the surprise. They decided to set up a friendship photoshoot for Nina and her friends as a birthday gift. Pot would make a grand entrance during the shoot.
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Behind the Scenes of the Proposal in Korea
While Nina was busy getting ready for the trip, Pot was running around making sure everything was perfect. Nina, however, was oblivious to the whole plan. She had no idea that Pot was already in Korea waiting for her.
“I wasn’t expecting the proposal at all,” Nina admits. “In fact, I thought it would happen much later in our relationship. When Sab asked me at the start of the trip if I thought Pot was going to propose, I was so sure it wasn’t going to happen yet.”
The trip to Korea was filled with small clues that almost gave the surprise away. Pot had made sure to set up little details that Nina didn’t notice like getting their nails done together and pre-booking a hair and makeup artist for Nina. But, Nina remained blissfully unaware. The final clue came when the photographer accidentally let it slip that “someone” (a.k.a. Pot) had been waiting at the venue for two hours. But even that didn’t raise Nina’s suspicions.
The Big Moment
When Nina and her friends arrived at the Garden of Morning Calm, everything seemed normal. But as they walked toward the designated spot, Nina began to notice something was off. Sab, who had been secretly helping Pot with the proposal plan, was acting a bit stressed. There was some bickering between her and the other friends, and Nina didn’t think much of it. She was focused on the photoshoot and wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary.
Then, the photographer told Nina to turn around to take a picture with some flowers. Nina, a little confused, didn’t understand why she needed to turn around.
“When he asked me to turn around, I had no idea what was going on,” Nina laughs. “Then, when I finally did, I saw Pot standing there. I literally said ‘What the f***’ out loud—I was so shocked! I had no idea he was there.”
The rest of the trip, Nina admits, was a blur. It took her a while to process what had just happened. “I couldn’t believe Pot was there. I couldn’t believe he was proposing. It was just… perfect.”
Pot’s Advice: Be Authentic
As any groom-to-be would know, the proposal can be one of the most nerve-wracking moments in life. For Pot, however, his advice is simple: “Just be yourselves when planning the proposal. Make it personal, and think about what your girlfriend would really enjoy. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being authentic.”
For Pot, that meant taking into account Nina’s preferences while also staying true to what felt right for them as a couple. And that authenticity paid off.
Nina’s Perspective: A Dream Come True
Looking back on the day, Nina is still in awe of how everything came together. “It was such a nice trip, and I really couldn’t have asked for more. I didn’t think it was going to happen in Korea, but I’m so glad it did. I’ve never been able to travel with Pot in all our years together, so this was really special.”
For Pot and Nina, their proposal in Korea was the culmination of years of growing together, learning from each other, and, of course, falling deeper in love with one another.
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