Actor Lee Dong-gun and rookie actress Kang Hae-rim have become embroiled in dating rumors that transcend a 16-year age difference. Lee Dong-gun, who noted, "I was just being honest," has once again become the icon of public relationships.
On the morning of the 29th, following reports that Lee Dong-gun was spotted on a date in Cheongdam-dong, it was confirmed that his romantic partner is actress Kang Hae-rim. Subsequently, testimonies from industry insiders emerged, stating, "The two are actually close," further spreading the dating rumors, but Lee Dong-gun's agency W Plus and Kang Hae-rim's agency Andmark stated, "It is a private matter, so we cannot confirm it."
However, Lee Dong-gun cautiously remarked in an interview with Sports Dong-a, "I don't think it's something I should talk about directly."
Kang Hae-rim, born in 1999, is 16 years younger than Lee Dong-gun, who was born in 1980. She gained attention by advancing to the finals as Miss Korea Busan and Ulsan in 2016 and subsequently became known through web dramas such as "Idol Authority" and KBS Joy's "Love's Intricacies." In 2022, she was cast as the lead character 'Kim Seom' in the Netflix series "Somebody," winning the role amidst a competitive ratio of 600:1, effectively establishing herself as an actress. Recently, she has returned to the screen in director Ha Jung-woo's film "Lobby," making a comeback.
If these dating rumors are true, it could mark yet another record of 'public relationships' for Lee Dong-gun.
In a past episode of the SBS variety show "My Little Old Boy," Lee Dong-gun was shown traveling to Taiwan with his mother and members of the Mobengers. On that day, Lee Dong-gun's father appeared in the studio and mentioned his son's dating style.
During a quiz with the Mobengers, when asked, "How many public relationships has Dong-gun had?" Lee Dong-gun's mother responded, "Three," but his father corrected her, stating, "Five," and added, "Our son makes all his relationships public. When I asked him, 'Why not hide it?' he said it was 'out of respect for the other person.'"
He continued, "That's why he was nicknamed 'Chair King,' but he says, 'I was just being honest, so why am I called the Chair King?'" acknowledging his son's public relationships with a cool demeanor.
Lee Dong-gun publicly dated actress Jo Yoon-hee in 2017, culminating in marriage. However, they divorced in 2020 after having a daughter, Loa. Since then, Lee Dong-gun has maintained a consistent relationship with his daughter and showcased his fatherly love through "My Little Old Boy." Recently, he has also ventured into self-employment by opening a large café in Jeju Island.
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