During the October 9 episode of Shin Dong Yup’s Coffee Order on tvN STORY, a nostalgic reunion of the iconic ’90s Korean sitcom Soonpoong Clinic brought back cast members including Park Young Kyu, Lee Tae Ran, Kim Sung Eun, Kim Sung Min and Lee Chang Hoon. Reflecting on the golden age of Korean television, one topic arose: rumors about Lee Chang Hoon’s past with Song Hye Kyo.
Host Shin Dong Yup directly brought up the old voice, asking:
“You were very popular back then, and there were also rumors that you were dating Song Hye Kyo, right?” Lee responded with a laugh, recalling, “I hated those rumors at the time. I even argued with a reporter about it. After I got married, my wife’s friends asked me, ‘Did you really date Song Hye Kyo?’ I had to swear it wasn’t true.”
“It was just an act, but people wanted to believe it”
Dating speculation stemmed from their on-screen romance in Soonpoong Clinic, which aired on SBS in 1998. Lee Chang Hoon played the love interest and later husband of Song Hye Kyo’s character, creating such convincing chemistry that fans believed their love extended off-screen.
In a 2013 episode of Hwashin, Lee had already denied the rumors, explaining that he was in his 30s at the time while Song Hye Kyo was still a high school student.
“We just acted together. Our stylist was the same and people started making things up. It was tough at the time, but now I just see it as a fun memory.”
Lee also recounted how even small gestures have become scandalous due to the show’s popularity: “I once gave kimbap to both Hye Kyo and Heo Young Ran, but only her name made the news.”
She added a more emotional anecdote: “Once, Hye Kyo cried after breaking up with her boyfriend. I consoled her, but people said I made her cry.”
His wife asked him too
Despite the passage of time, the rumor continues to circulate from time to time, including from Lee’s own wife.
“I just told her it was nothing. It was all because the show was such a success,” he said.
On the show, Lee brought the only photo he has with Song Hye Kyo, prompting Shin Dong Yup to joke, “You two look in love.” The comment drew laughter from both the cast and audience.
Married since 2008 to a woman 16 years his junior, Lee Chang Hoon is a father and far removed from the scandalous headlines of his sitcom days. However, he faces the past with equanimity: “He’s a global star now. Let’s laugh about it.”
Sources: Znews
