Han So Hee Admits To Dating Ryu Jun Yeol; Says She Will Apologize To Hyeri For Now-Deleted Instagram Story

Just one day after her agency’s denial, Han So Hee has confirmed that she is dating Ryu Jun Yeol.

On March 15, rumors that Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol were romantically involved began spreading online after someone spotted them vacationing together in Hawaii. That same day, Ryu Jun Yeol’s agency confirmed that the actor was in Hawaii but declined to comment on the rumors, while Han So Hee’s agency initially denied the rumors by saying that the actress was on a vacation “with close friends.”

Shortly afterwards, Girl’s Day’s Hyeri—who dated Ryu Jun Yeol for six years before announcing their breakup last November—made a cryptic post on Instagram Stories that some speculated was about the news. Hyeri posted a photo of a vacation spot and wrote, “This is funny.”

Han So Hee then posted a photo of a dog holding a knife and 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.” [The literal Korean title of the dating show “EXchange” is “transfer love”—a phrase that means moving onto a new relationship before ending your last one.]

In an apparent response to Hyeri’s post, she added, “I also find this funny.”

Meanwhile, some noted that back in November, Han So Hee posted a photo of herself attending Ryu Jun Yeol’s photo exhibition right around the same time that his breakup news with Hyeri was announced.

On March 16, Han So Hee took to her personal blog to announce in a long statement that she was, in fact, dating Ryu Jun Yeol—but that her relationship with the actor had not overlapped with his previous relationship with Hyeri.

Although she did not name her outright, Han So Hee also stated that she would apologize to Hyeri for her now-deleted Instagram story, explaining that she had made the post after she “temporarily lost all reason and behaved rudely.”

Han So Hee’s full statement is as follows:

"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."

 

cr: Soompi