Long-Term Couples in Korean Entertainment Face Heartbreaking Breakups

The end of long-term relationships in the Korean entertainment industry has recently been marked by breakups rather than weddings, leaving many fans disheartened.

Since last year, several prominent couples have announced their separations. One notable pair is Yoon Hyun-min (윤현민) and Baek Jin-hee (백진희), who met while filming the MBC weekend drama My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol (내 딸, 금사월). They confirmed their relationship in April 2016 but ultimately parted ways after seven years. In September of last year, Yoon Hyun-min's agency acknowledged the split, stating that the two had grown distant due to their individual work commitments.

Similarly, actor Jo Dong-hyuk (조동혁) and volleyball player Han Song-yi (한송이) also ended their relationship in June 2023. Jo Dong-hyuk's agency, J Flow Company, confirmed the breakup but refrained from providing specific details, citing privacy concerns. The couple had initially connected through the KBS2 variety show Our Neighborhood Sports (우리 동네 예체능) and had been together since 2017. Despite their split, they continue to support each other on social media.

Another high-profile couple, Ryu Jun-yeol (류준열) and Hyeri (혜리), captured public attention from the start of their relationship. They first appeared together in the hit tvN drama Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988), where their characters did not end up as a couple, but they found love in real life. They publicly acknowledged their relationship in August 2017 and became one of the entertainment industry's most talked-about couples. However, after several breakup rumors, both parties confirmed their separation in November 2023, citing personal reasons for the split.

In a surprising twist, Ryu Jun-yeol was later linked to actress Han So-hee (한소희), which prompted Hyeri to post a cryptic comment on social media, igniting a media frenzy. This led to Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee's brief relationship, which ended just 14 days later.

The most shocking breakup came from Lee Dong-wook (이동휘) and Jung Ho-yeon (정호연), who ended their nine-year relationship. Jung Ho-yeon's agency, Saram Entertainment, confirmed the split, stating that they decided to remain good colleagues. Lee Dong-wook's agency, Company On, also verified the breakup but did not provide further details. The couple began dating in late 2015 and had been together for nearly a decade. Their relationship gained significant attention after Jung Ho-yeon's rise to global fame through the Netflix series Squid Game (오징어게임). She often spoke fondly of their relationship in interviews, emphasizing the importance of making time for each other.

Despite their long-lasting relationships, the endings have left fans feeling a sense of loss, as these couples were often seen as symbols of enduring love in the entertainment industry.