On June 13, YouTube Entertainment channel president Lee Jin Ho uploaded a video titled “After 14 Years of Dating! Girls’ Generation’s Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Breakup Signs,” in which Lee Jin Ho discussed the former couple’s recent split with an industry reporter.
When asked about the possible timeline of the breakup, the reporter referred to Sooyoung’s drama I Dol I, in which the actress appeared last year. According to staff members on set, Sooyoung seemed noticeably upset during filming.
“The staff described her as a person full of worries and emotional burdens,” the journalist explained. “Of course, the drama itself had a heavy emotional tone, so it could have been part of her immersion in the role. But even in private settings, many people reported that she seemed with less energy than usual, depressed and deeply worried about something.”
The journalist added that after news of the breakup emerged, some staff members reportedly reacted by saying, “Ah, that’s why it looked like that.”
Given that the drama wrapped late last year, with filming believed to have taken place throughout the summer and fall, the reporter noted that it’s unclear whether the couple had already broken up during production or whether Sooyoung had been contemplating the relationship for several months.
Lee Jin Ho also pointed to Jung Kyung Ho’s appearance on Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon’s YouTube channel in December last year as a possible clue. She noted that Jung Kyung Ho, who had previously spoken casually about Sooyoung in interviews and broadcasts, barely mentioned her during that appearance.
“Every time he appeared on TV, he would casually mention Sooyoung,” Lee Jin Ho said. “But this time, her name only came up once, and even then, Jung Kyung Ho didn’t mention her first. Hyoyeon mentioned Sooyoung, and only then did her name enter the conversation.”
Further claims also suggest there may have been differing opinions among people close to the former couple regarding how the split should be handled publicly.
According to the reporter, people close to Jung Kyung Ho would have preferred to keep the breakup a secret and avoid media attention, while those around Sooyoung would have wanted to “fix things quickly” and confirm the news sooner.
The discussion also touched on whether Girls’ Generation member Tiffany Young’s recent marriage may have affected the couple’s relationship. However, the reporter dismissed the idea, saying that long-term couples like Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho had likely already discussed their future plans privately over the years.
“I don’t think anyone suddenly asks, ‘Why am I not married yet?’ just because a friend is getting married,” he said, offering his personal opinion.
Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho started dating in 2012 and publicly confirmed their relationship in 2014, becoming one of Korea’s most beloved long-term celebrity couples. However, after nearly 14 years together, the couple recently decided to end their romantic relationship.
Sources: Nate
