While waiting for new episodes of “Wonderful World” and “Midnight Photo Studio”, this yet another fascinating drama we can sink our teeth into.
Avid watchers of South Korean television series would be familiar with the three protagonists of this new juicy drama.
Female lead of 2021’s hit series “Nevertheless” (and also the star of BTS’ Jungkook’s
“Seven” music video if you’re more of a K-pop fella), rising star Han So Hee has recently confirmed that she is dating fellow actor Ryu Jun Yeol.
On 15 March, 2024, rumours about the pair’s relationship began flying rampant when someone spotted them vacationing together in Hawaii.
A Japanese tourist that spotted them revealed on Instagram that the couple were “frolicking on the poolside bed” next to them. They also hinted that they took photos of the couple, stating, “The pictures that I took are too shocking for the world to see.”
That very same day, Ryu Jun Yeol’s agency confirmed that the actor was in the island at the time of the rumours, but declined to comment on the relationship. Meanwhile, Han So Hee’s agency denied the rumours by saying that the actress was on holiday “with close friends”.
Despite her agency’s denial, Han So Hee has now confirmed on her own personal blog on 16 March that she is, in fact, meeting Ryu Jun Yeol with good feelings.
Ryu Jun Yeol’s agency also finally stepped forward to confirm the facts of the matter, stating that they began dating at the beginning of 2024, and asking the media to respect their privacy.
While nobody would bat an eye at two gorgeous and very talented celebrities confirming their relationship, there is a reason why this particular news has the entire K-drama fandom (me included) on a chokehold.
From indirect jabs from exes, to cheating and rebound allegations, sit back as we break things down for you.
Ryu Jun Yeol’s Ex Made a Cryptic Post on Instagram.
For those unaware, 37-year-old actor Ryu Jun Yeol was actually fresh out of his previous relationship before his current one.
Ryu had dated K-pop group Girl’s Day idol-turned-actress, Hyeri, for seven years.
Ryu and Hyeri had reportedly begun dating after co-starring as second male lead and female lead respectively in the hit nostalgic drama, 2015’s “Reply 1988”.
While the couple did not become endgame in that drama, their love in real life had blossomed and the couple eventually went public in August 2017.
For the next seven years, the couple appeared strong and stable, with many fans believing that it would eventually end in marriage.
However, many were blindsided and saddened when South Korean media outlet News1 broke the news in November 2023 that they had broken up, but the pair still decided to remain as colleagues who support each other.
Why is this important?
Since the rumours of Ryu and Han’s relationship began spreading across the nation on 15 March, ex Hyeri took to her own Instagram account to upload a rather cryptic story.
It showcases what looks to be a vacation spot complete with a sunset and palm trees. It was accompanied by the caption, “This is interesting.”
Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that Hyeri, who was still following her ex-boyfriend on social media post-breakup, had finally severed that connection; an action that led to immediate gossip amongst fans and speculations that maybe the breakup was not as clean as initially thought.
The plot thickened, however, when Han fired back with her own Instastory.
Han’s Instastory Post Sparks Cheating Rumours
The same day, current girlfriend 29-year-old Han So Hee posted a story of her own on Instagram, this time with a photo of a dog holding a knife saying, “Let’s try to explain this situation…”
The photo was accompanied by the following caption, “I don’t like people who have a significant other, I don’t lead them on while saying we’re just friends, I don’t take an interest in them, I don’t develop a relationship with them, and I don’t get in the way of other people’s relationships. I like the program ‘Transit Love,’ but there’s nothing like that in my life.”
(For context the program that she mentioned, “Transit Love”, is a reality dating show that features ten pairs of ex-lovers who date one another, either hoping to reignite their former flame or end up with someone new. Very juicy, highly recommended.)
(The Korean name for the show is also slang for cheating, rebounding, and/or switching relationships.)
Han ended her post with the kicker, “I also find it interesting.”
With her caption being an indirect – but also very direct – dig at Hyeri, netizens began to speculate a few different scenarios about the true nature of the trio’s relationship.
Things worsened for Han when fans noted that back in November 2023, she had attended Ryu’s photo exhibition, right around the time his breakup news with Hyeri was announced.
Fans began calling Han a “rebound” for Ryu since he was so freshly out of his previous relationship, but mostly, there were accusations that Ryu had been dating both women at the same time, and that both Han and Ryu had been dating secretly behind Hyeri’s back.
It seemed that these accusations were too much for Han to bear, as she took immediate action to rectify the situation.
Han So Hee’s Blog Post Confirms Relationship
At the point of time of both ladies’ Instastories, things between Ryu and Han were still not officially confirmed.
A day later, on 16 March 2024, Han ripped the proverbial band-aid off and uploaded a post on her personal blog, saying, “I’m writing this in the hopes that I can hurt my precious fans even a little bit less.”
“First, (Ryu) and I have positive feelings for each other and are in a relationship. However, I would like everyone to refrain from using the term ‘Transit’.”
She went on to explain that they did indeed meet through Ryu’s photo exhibition, which she had gone to while accompanying a photographer friend. The pair then exchanged feelings and began dating in the beginning of 2024.
“His breakup with that person was already wrapped up in early 2023. I heard that news articles about the breakup came out in November. Based on this fact, I confirmed my own feelings, and I kept going with the relationship.”
Han then took the time to apologise for the immature and brash nature of her Instastory, promising to do better in the future.
Things did not clear up after that, however.
After her post, Han also took the time to read and reply to fans’ comments.
From which, netizens were quick to point out discrepancies in the information presented by the media, and what she had revealed.
In particular, one comment pointed out that because the news between Ryu and Hyeri’s breakup was only made public in late 2023 (instead of early 2023 like she had said), Han had inadvertently exposed both actors’ private lives under the guise of defending herself.
To which, Han replied, “I did not privately hear about their break up period, but I just wrote my statement exactly according to an article I read in June 2023.”
This left netizens confused and angry, as there was, in fact, no news outlet that revealed the couple’s breakup at that point of time.
Other comments wrote, “Wow, why is she like that? What is she trying to achieve?”, “It’s better if she just stays still”, and a little bit more hilariously, “I don’t think she’s someone Ryu Jun Yeol can handle.”
As of now, this is the timeline of event centering around the three protagonists of the drama, as confirmed by South Korean news sites:
- August 2017: Ryu Jun Yeol and Hyeri’s relationship goes public
- 13 November 2023: News site reveals Ryu and Hyeri break up
- 15 November 2023: Han So Hee attends Ryu’s photo exhibition with a friend
- 15 March 2024: Ryu and Han were spotted in Hawaii
- 15 March 2024, 7AM: Both agencies confirm that the actors are in Hawaii but did not disclose private lives
- 15 March 2024, 11:45AM: Hyeri posts her Instastory
- 15 March 2024, 12:50PM: Hyeri unfollows Ryu on Instagram
- 16 March 2024: Han posts statement on her personal blog, Ryu’s agency also confirms relationship
As of 17 March 2024, all three parties (or their representatives) have yet to come forward with additional statements.
In the meantime, both Han and Ryu are both considering role offers for the upcoming drama adaptation of the mystery-thriller webtoon “Delusion”, which is highly anticipated and shaping up to be one of the biggest upcoming South Korea productions.
It is still unknown whether the current turbulent nature of the stars’ real-life relationship would affect the production of the drama, or even the public’s interest in watching it.