Taiwanese actor Ethan Ruan is once again making headlines, this time for his high-profile romance. After keeping things under wraps for months, the actor actually went public with his relationship after being spotted on a romantic street date in Japan with his much younger girlfriend.
Photos taken by passers-by on March 26 show Ethan Ruan casually holding his partner’s hand as they stroll through the streets, appearing relaxed and affectionate. The sighting quickly spread on social media, confirming rumors that had been circulating for some time.
What attracted even more attention than the public displays of affection was the identity and appearance of his girlfriend. According to ETtoday, her last name is Xu, she comes from a wealthy family and is currently studying at a prestigious university in South Korea. Despite being about 20 years younger than the actor, she has reportedly been in a relationship with him for about a year and a half.
Netizens were especially stunned by her luxurious fashion choices during the outing. She was seen wearing a designer outfit, including items from Hermès and Chanel, with a total value estimated at around TWD 1.23 million (around $30,000). Her elegant images and wealthy image quickly became a hot topic online.
Industry insiders reveal that Ethan Ruan is taking this relationship seriously, even maintaining a long-distance romance and frequently flying to South Korea to visit his girlfriend. This marks a busier side of the actor, in contrast to his old self “bad boy” reputation.
Born in 1982, Ethan Ruan rose to fame after winning the Best Actor award at the Golden Horse Awards for his performance in As. He also became a household name across Asia thanks to the hit drama Destined to love you alongside Joe Chen.
However, her love life has long been a source of controversy. The actor has been linked to multiple affairs and scandals over the years, including accusations of infidelity and complicated breakups. His past romance with Tiffany Hsu, which lasted almost eight years, ended in the middle reports of repeated cheating, significantly damaging his public image.
He was also rumored to be dating Song Zu’er, who is 16 years younger than him. Their relationship faced strong public backlash and ultimately ended in 2021.
Now, at 43, Ethan Ruan’s last relationship continues to divide public opinion. While some fans are intrigued by his apparent commitment, others remain skeptical, given his past. Regardless, the actor once again proves that his personal life is just as captivating as his on-screen career.
