Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol Confirmed to be Dating After Much Controversy

A new celebrity couple has been thrusted in the limelight amidst intense scrutiny and it's none other than South Korean actors, Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol. As of writing this article, both talent agencies representing the two stars have confirmed the rumours however, the announcement was not without drama as Ryu's previous romantic partner, Girl's Day's Lee Hye-ri also got pulled into the media frenzy. Here's everything we know of what transpired so far!  

Speculations of the Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol dating began early March when a fan shared a candid photo of the two stars lounging by a Hawaiian poolside, accompanied by hashtags like 'Reply 1988' and 'Nevertheless', innocuously remarking on their adorable presence. Despite initial denials from their agencies, Dispatch released the photos in their latest issue, clarifying that the couple was indeed together when the pictures surfaced on the Korean website. While the leaked photos didn't depict them in a romantic light, some internet users questioned why they initially denied their relationship when they hadn't done anything wrong.

The rumour mill intensified after Han So-Hee and Hyeri who had a seven-year relationship with Ryu Jun-Yeol, engaged in a cryptic social media back-and-forth. At that time, Hyeri had unfollowed him on Instagram and posted a cryptic Instagram story which said, "That's funny."

Shortly after, Han appeared to retaliate with her own IG story, posting a picture of a dog holding a knife, stating, "Explain this situation… 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 show EXchange, but there’s nothing like that in my life." She followed up, seemingly in response to Hyeri's post, with a touch of irony, "I also find this funny." EXchange is a popular reality dating show around ex-lovers. 

On March 16, Han So-Hee addressed the issue on her personal blog, apologizing to her fans and acknowledging the potential hurt caused by the rumors and subsequent social media interactions. Ryu Jun-Yeol's agency later confirmed their relationship, stating that they had been dating since the beginning of the year.

Their initial meeting occurred at a photo exhibition on November 15, where rumours of their relationship started circulating shortly after Ryu Jun-Yeol's breakup with Hyeri. Han So-Hee recalled this meeting in her blog post, mentioning that they initially crossed paths due to a mutual friend who is a photographer and eventually developed romantic feelings for each other at the beginning of 2024.

Read Han So-Hee's full statement as posted on her blog which she has since set to private below:

"Hello, everyone. For the past two days, there have been people who were greatly surprised and hurt by news about me, and you were very surprised, right? Honestly, it would be right to inform you through an article, but in my opinion, I think that would be closer to a notice, so I’m writing this in the hopes that I can hurt my precious fans even a little bit less.

First, it’s true that we are in a relationship with positive feelings. However, I hope that people will not use the word “transfer.” It’s true that we met through the exhibition, but I went there through a friend who’s a photographer with the goal of viewing the exhibition, and because I’d heard the news that we might be doing a project together, I wound up saying hello.

Second, when we exchanged feelings for one another, it was already the beginning of 2024, and 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.

Third, my pathetic Instagram story. It’s true, it was pathetic and lame. I should have just stayed still, but even though I didn’t want to see rumors and claims that I started dating [Ryu Jun Yeol] before his breakup, I still saw and heard them, so I temporarily lost all reason and behaved rudely.

I will apologize to that person [Hyeri] regarding this fact, and I sincerely apologize to you all for not reacting wisely. Because I acted based on my emotions rather than rational thinking, I acknowledge that this is completely my fault, regardless of my reasons.

Fourth, of course there will be [official] articles published regarding this, but the articles will not represent all of my feelings and thoughts, and I’m sorry for suddenly coming here out of the blue because my only means of communicating with my fans is my blog. It wouldn’t be enough even if I came here with good news, and I truly want to apologize again and again to my fans, who were upset and couldn’t sleep because they kept seeing and hearing [news about] my situation.

I always said this in a half-joking, half-serious way, but regarding the fact that even at the age of 30, my actions are this messy and I made you worry over nothing, I think I still have a long way to go. However, I’m grateful that I’m able to at least convey a little bit of my feelings in this kind of space, and I’m also sorry. I feel conflicting emotions. These days, I’ve been thinking that the idea that I need to show you only good sides of myself is actually ruining me more.

I find myself looking back on whether, because I’m living a life that focuses on the results rather than the process, I’ve lost the moment of that process. The reason you like me is probably not just a few photos or videos. So if my attitude seems conceited or arrogant, even though I don’t think it is, if it seems that way to you, then I probably already have those bad feelings to some extent. I think the time has come for me to acknowledge it and return to my original place, to find what it is that I truly wanted to do, what it is I liked, what made me happy. I don’t know if I became a mess of a person because I took my first break in two years, but like I said before, please reproach me a lot.

Thinking of my fans, who must be worrying about me even in this situation, my heart aches, but when you’ve done something wrong, you need to be punished for it. I have no doubt that I will become a better version of myself, and thank you for supporting me. I’m sorry and apologetic, but because of that, I want to do better. I will learn how to control my greedy self, and I will greet you as a more mature version of myself. I’m sorry for coming to this blog, which I only visit a couple of times a year, with this kind of gloomy post. It’s morning now. Please make sure to eat. Stay strong."