This just in: After dating rumors began circulating online, Han So Hee has *officially* confirmed that she is dating Ryu Jun Yeol. They are also both currently in talks to star in director Han Jae Rim's upcoming adaptation of the webtoon Delusion.
READ: Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol's Relationship Timeline
November 13, 2023: Girl's Day's Hyeri and Ryu Jun Yeol confirmed their breakup.
To refresh your memory, on Monday, November 13, News1 reported that Jun Yeol and Hyeri ended their relationship. Both Jun Yeol's agency C-JeS Studios and Hyeri's agency Creative Group ING confirmed the news: "It is true that they broke up."
READ ALSO:
Omo, Ryu Jun Yeol And Hyeri Have Broken Up After 6 Years Of Dating
A Timeline Of Hyeri And Ryu Jun Yeol's Relationship
November 15, 2023: Han So Hee visited Ryu Jun Yeol's photo exhibition.
So Hee posted a photo of herself visiting Jun Yeol's photo exhibition on November 15th.
His solo exhibition— titled A Wind Runs Throught It And Other Stories—began on Friday, November 10, 2023 and ran until Sunday, January 21, 2024.
View this post on Instagram
March 15, 2024: dating rumors about Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol spread online.
On Friday, March 15, someone spotted the two vacationing together in Hawaii. Ryu Jun Yeol’s agency C-JeS Studios shared an official statement in response to the report: "It’s true that Ryu Jun Yeol is staying in Hawaii for photography work. We ask that you respect the fact that it’s the actor’s personal vacation."
Meanwhile, So Hee’s agency 9ATO Entertainment denied the rumors. "They are not dating," they clarified. "[Han So Hee] went on a vacation to Hawaii with close friends."
March 15, 2024: Hyeri made a cryptic post on Instagram Stories.
Hyeri dated Ryu Jun Yeol for six years before announcing their breakup last November 2023. After Jun Yeol and So Hee's dating rumors began circulating, she posted a photo of a tropical vacation view and wrote "This is funny."
Hyeri also unfollowed Ryu Jun Yeol on the same day the dating rumors broke—her following count dropped by exactly one on March 15.
March 15, 2024: Han So Hee uploaded an Instagram Story seemingly in response to Hyeri.
Han So Hee posted a photo of a white dog holding a knife, with the speech bubble saying "Explain this situation now." She then wrote, "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 program 'EXchange,'* but there's nothing like that in my life."
In an apparent response to Hyeri’s post, she added, "I also find this funny."
*Editor's note: [stylized as EXchange, the dating reality show's literal meaning is Transit Love, which refers to moving onto a new relationship before you've ended your current one.]
March 16, 2024: Han So Hee shared a long statement on her personal blog to announce she is dating Ryu Jun Yeol.
However, So Hee clarified that her current relationship with Jun Yeol did not overlap with his previous relationship with Hyeri.
"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."
Although she did not name Hyeri outright, Han So Hee also said that she would apologize for her now-deleted Instagram story.
"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."
Han So Hee’s full statement is translated on Soompi.
March 16, 2024: Ryu Jun Yeol's agency also confirmed his relationship with Han So Hee.
Following Han So Hee's personal statement, C-JeS Studios released a statement confirming their artist's relationship:
"Starting with the Hawaii sighting account from yesterday, there have been many articles speculating about Ryu Jun Yeol's personal life, so we would like to inform you of the truth.
Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee confirmed their positive feelings for one another and have been dating since the beginning of this year. Ryu Jun Yeol got to know Han So Hee after his breakup, and they recently confirmed their feelings [for each other]."
March 18, 2024: Hyeri posted an apology on her Instagram.
Following the recent drama that unfolded after it was revealed that Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol are dating, Hyeri took to Instagram to share a statement regarding her past relationship.
"First, I sincerely apologize for the speculations and controversies that arose over the past few days due to my personal emotions. I think I failed to consider the ripple effects that each of my minor actions could have. I sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed because of me," she said as translated by Soompi.
The actress clarified that even after their breakup articles were published, they discussed having further conversations, however that was the last time they had contact or met each other. But when she came across the dating rumors, she took it personally as Lee Hyeri and not actress Lee Hyeri.
"Over the past few days, I didn’t explain the reason for my actions because I thought that our conversations were overly personal, and it would only increase fatigue [to the public].
If this caused confusion for anyone, I am also sorry for that. Moving forward, I will be more careful with my words and actions."
