Couple Met on Third Date with Renoir Book

Why this is here: Stephan Chung gave Theresa Rhee a book about Renoir on their third date, writing an inscription in English to present himself as worldly.

Yoo-Sun Chung submitted a photo of her parents, Theresa Rhee and Stephan Chung, who first met in South Korea in the late 1960s. Stephan, an employee at Bayer, secured a first date through a colleague connected to Theresa, a literature graduate and magazine editor. He gifted her a book about Renoir on their third date, including a handwritten inscription in English.

The couple married in 1968 and initially raised their children—Mike and Yoo-Sun—before moving to the Netherlands, where another son, Paul, was born. After a period in Seoul attempting to immerse the children in Korean culture, they returned to the Netherlands, prioritizing education for their kids. Stephan continued working well into his seventies, enjoying a close family life.

Following a stroke in 2012, the family moved back to the Netherlands where Theresa cared for Stephan until his death. Now 86, Theresa remains active and misses her husband daily, with her children regularly visiting to share memories. The article does not detail the specifics of their life in Korea beyond Stephan’s continued employment.