On November 26, representatives from Jung Ho Yeon’s agency Saram Entertainment and Lee Dong Hwi’s agency Company On confirmed the news to OSEN. “It’s true that Jung Ho Yeon and Lee Dong Hwi broke up. They decided to go back to being good colleagues,” they said.
A decade-long journey
The two began dating in 2015 and publicly acknowledged their relationship in January 2016, overcoming a nine-year age gap to cultivate a comfortable and supportive partnership. Although Lee Dong Hwi often avoided personal questions about their relationship in interviews, he showed great care in protecting their privacy.
However, this year brought subtle changes in their approach to each other’s audience, attracting the attention of fans. In particular, their playful banter has been highlighted on various shows, including the web variety program Pinggyego.
Playful mentions on “Pingggyego”
In March, Lee Dong Hwi appeared Pinggyegowhere Yoo Jae Suk jokingly references Jung Ho Yeon’s remarks about one of Lee Dong Hwi’s projects. “Ho Yeon said watching Gyewon of the month and I found it boring. When I told her, ‘Dong Hwi was cute,’ she didn’t agree,” Yoo joked, adding that Jung Ho Yeon had expressed interest in participating in the show herself.
Lee Dong Hwi responded humorously: “I hope he comes and shows us what he can do,” although he also thanked her for receiving a video message from David Beckham during one of his events.
When Jung Ho Yeon later appeared on the show, he continued to use a lighthearted tone, sharing anecdotes about his growing influence after Squid game. She told how Lee Dong Hwi, a Beckham fan, had asked her to secure an autograph. “When I met Beckham, he offered to record a video. Dong Hwi was so happy that he bragged about it to his friends for weeks. He keeps thanking me for it, saying my power surpassed his,” he joked.
From love to friendship
In their final year as a couple, the couple began to talk more openly about their relationship in media appearances, including Lee Dong Hwi mentioning “Squid Game” actress Jung Ho Yeon as his girlfriend during Kwak Taxitrip 2 in the month of August. Despite these warm moments, they eventually decided to part ways, going from lovers to supportive colleagues.
The specific reasons behind their split remain unknown, with both agencies stressing mutual respect. “They have agreed to remain on good terms as colleagues,” the statement concluded.
Source: OSEN
