The Most Shocking K-Celebrity Couples Announced In 2023
2023 is the year of unexpected relationships! Here are 10 of the most surprising Korean celebrity couples revealed so far.
1. Lee Do Hyun & Lim Ji Yeon
No K-Drama fans expected that The Glory co-stars were dating IRL, although it was an open secret on set.
They didn’t make it obvious that they were in a relationship. However, they did secretly create that atmosphere by sharing some couple items.
— Drama official A
The team for The Glory had great teamwork, the best I have seen. The actors would often go out to eat together. I think they got to know each other through the dinners and it developed into a relationship.
— Drama official B
2. MAMAMOO’s Hwasa & Businessman
According to reports, the K-Pop idol, Hwasa, has been dating an unidentified businessman for five years. If that duration wasn’t surprising enough, he is also reportedly 12 years older than her.
He couldn’t easily accept Hwasa’s affection because she is a well-known public figure 12 years younger than him.
I think there was a lot of concern because of the age gap and the fact that there is a difference between celebrities and regular citizens.
When Hwasa is about to make a big decision, he often sincerely advises her.
He is playing the role of her mentor.
— Insider
Besides the initial insider report, not much is known. Additionally, her current agency, P NATION, did not confirm nor deny.
It is difficult to confirm the recent reports due to the fact that it is the artists’ private life.
Please understand, thank you.
— P NATION
3. Ko Kyu Pil & Amin
Actor Ko Kyu Pil went viral in June for his outstandingly beautiful girlfriend, singer-songwriter Amin. His agency confirmed their relationship.
It is true that Ko Kyu Min is dating Amin.
— Big Boss Entertainment
4. Yubin & Kwon Soon Woo
Former Wonder Girls member Yubin was reportedly dating rising tennis star Kwon Soon Woo in May. He also happens to be nine years younger than the idol.
It is true that they are dating with good feelings. We can’t give more details because it is their private lives.
— RRR Entertainment
5. Lee Jang Woo & Jo Hye Won
Their respective agencies confirmed the actors’ relationship. They previously worked together on KBS’s 2018 K-Drama, My Only One, so it should not be too surprising, except that she is eight years younger than him.
It is true that the two, who met on a project and had been close sunbae/hoobae, are dating.
— Hunus Entertainment
The two met on a project and were just sunbae/hoobae before developing a sincere relationship. Please support their beautiful love.
— SWMP
6. Park Seo Joon & xooos
The popular Korean actor was reported to be dating YouTuber and singer xooos. His agency, Awesome ENT, simply stated, “It is hard to confirm information about the actor’s personal life.” He himself revealed very little and later explained that he does so as he is a victim of stalking.
I heard about the news very late yesterday. After hearing the news, I thought, ‘I’m getting a lot of attention.’ Getting that attention is something to be thankful for.
However, in my situation, I feel a lot of pressure to reveal my personal life. It is difficult to say anything noteworthy because it is part of my personal life.
— Park Seo Joon
7. Song Seung Yeon & Choi Jae Rim
It was shocking to hear the news of singer Song Seung Yeon dating actor and colleague Choi Jae Rim, considering she is currently in controversy due to her connection to The Givers CEO Ahn Sung Il.
8. Park Ji Hyun & Non-Celebrity
The former Heart Signal 3 star surprised everyone by announcing her wedding publicly the week of. The popular dating show contestant wedded a businessman.
Hello everyone,
Today I am writing to you because I have news to share with you.
I have met someone who is always by my side and is someone who I’d like to be with forever, and so we are getting married this Saturday.
I wanted to share this news with you first, with a thankful heart for all of the support and love you have given me.I will continue to love and cherish my groom-to-be, and we will live happily together.
Thank you 🙂
— Park Ji Hyun
9. HIGHLIGHT’s Son Dongwoon & Non-Celebrity
The K-Pop idol surprised fans by penning a handwritten announcement of his engagement to a non-celebrity. It was unexpected as there had been no dating news prior.
To LIGHTs.
Hello. This is Highlight’s Dongwoon. It’s been a long time since I’ve left a handwritten letter for you guys like this. This could be rather sudden. I’m very nervous and cautious even now, because I know very well that this could surprise you, and also make you sad. But I took up the courage to write this as I want to be the first to tell you.
Thankfully, I met someone that understands me a lot and shows me lots of consideration. At some point, I came to think that I wish to spend my future with them, and so, we will be having a wedding this September. As they are not someone who is in the same line of work as me, we will be having the wedding quietly, with just our family and close acquaintances. I’m really sorry for having had no choice but to stay silent all this while, and for not being able to tell you this.
I met everyone at the age of 19 for the first time. At home and in the group, I have lived as the maknae. I’m so grateful that everyone also cheered me on and loved me, more so as the maknae. Both now and during my debut days, although I was someone who is lacking, thanks to the unimaginable amount of love that you guys have given me, I was able to grow and become who I am today. I know this well too.
I’m also grateful to the Highlight members who have always cheered me on and trusted me. I will not forget this gratitude and work much harder than I have up to now. I will repay everyone’s love by working my best in my position as HIGHLIGHT’s Dongwoon. Thank you for reading this post until the end, as unrefined as it was.
From HIGHLIGHT’s Dongwoon.
— Dongwoon
10. Ahn Bo Hyun & BLACKPINK’s Jisoo
No one saw this relationship coming, although, according to reports, they had been dating since May. An insider shared, “Jisoo is a member of a world star girl group. There was no other choice since there are limited date places.”
There were not many days Jisoo was in Korea. Ahn Bo Hyun coordinated his schedule to make sure it matched Jisoo’s so they could be together.
— Insider
Since Dispatch‘s report, fans discovered details that showed the clues to their relationship were always there.
the way we freaked out over haesoo being in the same room not knowing jisoo is dating bohyun already 😭 i literally did not see all of this coming like AT ALL pic.twitter.com/zPfOhbJuoJ
— andi (@moonlightrubyy) August 3, 2023
Honorable mention: IU & Lee Jong Suk
Technically, this couple was not announced in 2023. Instead, Dispatch revealed them as the New Year’s Couple at the end of 2022! Reportedly, the couple had been together for four months already, and several months later, they are still going strong today.
Because we are in the same profession, we naturally talk about acting. Before filming, if there is a scene that I really don’t understand, I make an SOS call to my boyfriend.
— IU
The actors are a classic friends-to-lovers story, having previously met as Inkigayo MCs in 2012. After the dating news was released, Lee Jong Suk revealed that his heart always was IU’s.
Hello, this is Lee Jong Suk. I realized I hadn’t thanked the fans in private since winning the huge award. So, though belated, I thought I’d leave it in writing here since I haven’t written in a while.
I’m sorry I ended up wrapping up the year with a shocker. And thank you for cheering me on at the awards ceremony so I could keep my chin up.
I guess what I wanted to share was that I really appreciate you all. I feel like I’m still not enough; I’m a lacking introvert no matter how much I age. But you continue to support me with never-ending love and encouragement, and I’m grateful. I just grew more nervous with each word, and I forgot the most important part. So, again, thank you so much, and I’m sorry.
Also, I’m sure that I’ve surprised you all with the articles that came out as of late… And I wanted to tell you a bit more about her.
We met for the first time when we were in our mid-20s. For me, it grew into something like a crush. There was something big there, and at times, I was bummed that it didn’t go anywhere. For a long time, we remained friends. But now, we’re finally together.
Hmm… I wish I could explain this better.
— Lee Jong Suk
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