The weekend was, well, kinda K-messy, wasn’t it?
Basically, the entire K-drama/K-pop community was greeted with the news of Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee dating after the two were seen together in Hawaii last Friday, March 15, 2024. At first, the reactions to the dating news were of disbelief, as the two of them together were never imagined in the first place.
ICYDK: Ryu Jun-yeol is an actor known for his role as Kim Jung-hwan in the drama “Reply 1988” (2015), and Han So-hee is an actress known for her roles in the dramas “The World of the Married” (2020), “Nevertheless” (2021), and “Gyeongseong Creature” (2023). Most recently, she appeared in Jungkook’s music video for his song, “Seven feat. Latto.”
Now, going back. Han So-hee’s agency also initially denied the actors’ romantic involvement in a statement, commenting, “They are not daying, [Han So-hee] went on a vacation to Hawaii with close friends.”
Following those news articles saying that Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee were in a relationship, Lee Hye-ri, a distinguished actress and singer in her own name and was in a relationship with Ryu Jun-yeol for 8 years, posted an Instagram story that drew in all the attention from her fans.
In her IG story that she posted on Friday, it said, “This is funny.”
A quick context in case people were lost: Hyeri and Ryu Jun-yeol were in a relationship for about 8 years, having developed a relationship while filming the drama, “Reply 1988.” The two had broken up in November 2023.
On the same day, Han So-hee took to her Instagram to initially deny the rumors of her being in a relationship with Ryu Jun-yeol. She said, “Explain this situation…I don’t like people who have a asignificant 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.”
Han So-hee was referring to a Korean dating show titled “EXchange,” or “transfer love,” which means people move on to a new relationship before ending their current one.
In the same Instagram story, she seemingly clapped back at Hyeri by saying, “It’s funny to me too.”
Han Sohee seemingly claps back at Girls' Day member Hyeri's Instagram story, which appears to indirectly address the dating rumor with her ex-boyfriend Ryu Junyeol.
H: “It's funny to me.”
HS: “It's funny to me too.” pic.twitter.com/sNkLH70PXk— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 15, 2024
Then on March 16, 2024, Han So-hee posted a long statement on her personal blog, setting the record straight about the rumors, and retracting her initial comment by saying that she was, in fact, dating Ryu Jun-yeol. She made it clear that her relationship with Ryu Jun-yeol did not coincide with his past relationship/break-up with Hyeri.
In her statement, she also mentioned (albeit indirectly) that she would apologize to Hyeri for her previous IG story, and that she had “lost all reason and behaved impolitely.”
On the same day, Ryu Jun-yeol’s agency C-JeS Studios made a statement about his and Han So-hee’s relationship. In the statement, C-JeS Studios confirmed the relationship, while also making it clear that they will not release any other comments about their actor’s personal life. C-JeS Studios also said that they will be taking strong legal actions towards those who will continue making malicious and slanderous posts about Ryu Jun-yeol.
Despite this, many people still pointed out inconsistencies with Han So-hee’s statement and the timing of Hyeri and Ryu Jun-yeol’s relationship. Some had even gone as far as to comment on her blog post about it.
Han So-hee took the time to reply to some of these comments, with one of them harshly criticizing her for “inventing” claims about the break-up of the former couple.
현재 블로그 댓글에 답댓다는 중인 한소희..jpg (Han So-hee replying to comments on her blog.jpg) (링크에 더있어요👉) https://t.co/siW88aFnYU pic.twitter.com/36XtIiCeeM
— 인스티즈(instiz) (@instiz) March 16, 2024
Han sohee saw an article in June 2023 and thought that ryu junyeol was single so she started something with him while rjy & hyeri ended their relationship in November… so ryj cheated on hyeri. Hsh didn't even confirm the end of his relationship with hyeri with him 💀. https://t.co/7M0mkpTb3n pic.twitter.com/PChNO8TJ5g
— ً (@99facts_) March 16, 2024
People were still suspicious about the entire kerfuffle, which led to Han So-hee taking down her blog and putting her Instagram on private.
On March 18, 2024, Hyeri took to her personal Instagram to apologize and to reveal details about their [her and Ryu Jun-yeol] past relationship.
Here is a full translation of Hyeri’s statement (as per Soompi):
“Hello. This is Hyeri.
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.
Last November, the news was released that my eight-year relationship came to an end. It was not a decision made in a short period of time, and even after the breakup news came out, we had a conversation about talking more [about our situation].
However, we have not had any contact or met since that conversation.
And four months later, I think my emotions after coming across a new article were perceived not as actress Lee Hyeri but as just Lee Hyeri.
I apologize once again for causing harm with my impulsive emotions.
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.
Thank you.
(I will delete this post soon. Thank you.)”
On the same day, Han So-hee’s agency 9ato Entertainment announced that they will be taking serious legal actions towards those that continue to spread malicious comments about her.
Following Hyeri’s statement, many fans expressed their concerns for both Hyeri and Han So-hee. Some also mentioned how people shouldn’t have pit the two against each other, and that Hyeri had only reacted as she should have.
Others pointed out how Ryu Jun-yeol was silent the entire time this was happening and did not speak up once to defend his ex or his current girlfriend.
Atleast Hyeri finally confirmed the break-up was NOVEMBER. Not early 2023 or June 2023 but NOVEMBER 2023! And that even AFTER break-up news were out, she & RJY still talk about getting back which I guess gets her hopes up but then he got together w/ Han So Hee which hurts Hyeri. https://t.co/9SCpvI6SJm
— 👑 ZITAO 👑 (@krystal_anne88) March 18, 2024
Yeah so the story was directed towards that excuse of a man but Han so hee took it personal and went along to shade hyeri… pic.twitter.com/atntNostRe https://t.co/s4kKdu4cLo
— jun (@hijimaen) March 18, 2024
He got her hopes up that they’ll try & fix, didn’t properly talk to her after- and dated someone else within 4 months. I can imagine Hyeri’s pain.
Now that she finally personally addressed the issue, I hope you now know where she was coming from when she posted that story. ☹️💔 pic.twitter.com/vubBpeaIfJ
— woozi’s jaja◡̈♡¹⁷ ᴵˢ ᴿᴵᴳᴴᵀ ᴴᴱᴿᴱ 🪄 (@ShinAlthea96) March 18, 2024
he made hyeri believe they can still talk things out after their breakup news was announced publicly just for him to date han so hee months after that talk.. that guy will burn in hell pic.twitter.com/ozX1RD92hS
— awks… (@aurevoirozay) March 18, 2024
It’s clear as I said before….that Ryu must have been playing in Hyeri’s face for her to be so annoyed to post a story. But at the same time it resulted in a spur of homewrecker allegations towards Han So Hee (typical misogyny strikes again). And once again the man stays silent. pic.twitter.com/UaCneLaXLs
— S 🥰 (@Ssadi23) March 16, 2024
maybe if han so hee did not mock hyeri & stayed silent this dating news is not gonna be so messy. allat shit you said in your story just for you to admit you were really dating him crazyyypic.twitter.com/3kTNLCoane
— awks… (@aurevoirozay) March 16, 2024
saying hyeri shading that man was what sparked hate for sohee is so funny to me because i can remember when sohee responded back shading and disrespecting her, yall called hyeri a desperate gf who can keep her ugly man, all for the dating news to come out.
— mo (@filled_popcorn) March 18, 2024
I actually thought han so hee "slayed" that instagram story clapped back, only for her to confirm her relationship with that guy the next day.
hyeri's right after all. it was really funny. https://t.co/grJR2BLWLk
— y (@naddiexo_) March 16, 2024
The quotes being full of girlies that usually can’t move on from their exes and spend their time shading their exes new gf but oh well apparently Han So hee is the one who’s not a girls girl lol what a joke. (He better speak up for his gf bc I’m sick of women being blamed) https://t.co/LVi2gmdwXl pic.twitter.com/AtAFoe2YZ2
— ohtobeme (@udontknoxme) March 16, 2024
please take all of han so hee and lee hyeri’s suffering and give it all to ryu jun yeol https://t.co/oJmJHPLUt0 pic.twitter.com/M8l2TSbw56
— マオ 🥀 (@winterhyeri) March 18, 2024
hyeri apologized for the expressing her feelings and sadness, sohee apologized for reacting and defending herself but where is that man’s apology for being an ugly ogre and a coward? bc as far as I’m concerned, that’s still a bigger crime but maybe that’s just me pic.twitter.com/Ar0yuwgPKv
— ꫂ ၴႅၴ (@rozayswaist) March 18, 2024
K-Netz Recall The Lyrics of DAY6's "Congratulations" Amid Hyeri, Han Sohee, and Ryu Junyeol's Current Situationhttps://t.co/duQegrU2ru#Hyeri #HanSohee #RyuJunyeol #Day6 #혜리 #한소희 #류준열 #데이식스 pic.twitter.com/mTLgTIkAj3
— pannatic (@pannatic) March 18, 2024
i wanna give hyeri the biggest hug:(#HanSohee #Hyeri #RyuJunYeol pic.twitter.com/3d15sEB7jV
— Believer.67 (@believer49405) March 18, 2024
I can imagine Hyeri’s pain. She thought they’ll try & fix the problem. But it turns out that he find someone new.💔
Hyeri you deserve better.😭#HanSohee #Hyeri #RyuJunYeol pic.twitter.com/P0JRYwNRL2— 国剪屋 王绿的 (@gujinwwngl59059) March 18, 2024
#Hyeri finally speaks up!! girllll u’re so strong, u dont need to apologize😭
she & #HanSoHee already released their statements but where’s #RyuJunYeol? shouldn’t he be the 1st one to clear up this mess? at least speak up from your own mouth, not hiding behind the girls/agency💀 pic.twitter.com/Acral4Inja
— 💫 (@kdramasfangirl) March 18, 2024
We hope that Hyeri and Han So-hee are okay after this whole thing. We feel you, girlies.
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