Man who cryogenically froze his wife faces backlash after finding new love years later

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A man is facing criticism after starting a new relationship years after having his wife cryogenically frozen, hoping future technology could cure her lung cancer.

It sounds like something from a science fiction film! In 2017, a 57-year-old man named Gui Junmin chose to have his wife’s body cryogenically preserved, hoping future medical advances might one day cure her lung cancer and bring her back to life.

Zhan Wenlian became known as the first person in China to be cryopreserved – meaning her body was frozen for potential future revival. She remains stored at the Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute in a special unit kept at -196℃ (-320°F), identified as ‘Container No. 1’.

Founded in 2015, the institute partnered with Shandong University Chiru Hospital to launch a trial program for human cryopreservation, offering the service free of charge to its first participants.

After Wenlian received a terminal lung cancer diagnosis in April 2017, Junmin chose to preserve her through the program.

He told reporters that he felt like his world had fallen apart when she left, admitting he often gets lost in his own thoughts and daydreams.

According to the Shandong Yinfeng Life Science Research Institute, Wenlian’s cells are showing no unusual changes, and they describe her condition as stable. Despite this, doctors have clinically declared her deceased.

Junmin’s choice to preserve his wife, hoping for a future medical breakthrough, was both upsetting and surprising. Now, he’s facing backlash for not allowing time for the process to potentially bring her back to life.

Man keeping wife in cryogenic storage says new partner cannot replace her

In November 2025, reports in Chinese media revealed that Junmin was in a new relationship. Junmin later confirmed he had been living with his girlfriend since 2020.

He shared that he’d been single for two years and, unfortunately, developed health problems that made it difficult to move around, and he didn’t have anyone to help him at home.

According to the Maeil Business Newspaper, Junmin experienced a serious gout attack that led to his collapse. He wasn’t found for two days, and family members had to force their way into his home when they became worried about him.

Junmin explained that if something terrible happens while you’re by yourself, there’s no way to prove it or get help. He added that even if someone were to die alone, no one would ever know.

He eventually met his current partner, Wang Chun-sha, through a friend. He says she has a kind and considerate nature, much like his late wife.

Despite entering into a relationship with Chun-sha, Junmin says he remains committed to his wife.

He admitted he wasn’t quite falling for his girlfriend yet. While he felt responsible for her, it was a difficult situation. He explained that she could never take the place of his wife, and although he couldn’t erase the past, he needed to move forward with his life.

“I don’t care about her, she can go wherever she wants.”

The news has caused a lot of discussion online in China, with one commenter questioning if the situation is a form of ’emotional polygamy’ – being emotionally invested in multiple people, even while in a relationship with one. They pointed out the man is currently with one woman but still hopes to reconnect with another in the future.

Someone else pointed out, “If you’re already feeling this way, what’s the point of starting a new relationship? And if you do, why wouldn’t you treat your new partner with real kindness? This isn’t admirable behavior – it’s simply self-centered.”

This unusual divorce settlement isn’t new; last October, a man in Turkey famously agreed to pay his former wife thousands of dollars each month to care for their cats as part of their divorce agreement.

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2025-11-18 00:21