Korean netizens are recently buzzing about the relationship between actress Go Hyun Jung and actor Ha Jung Woo. Recently, Go Hyun Jung posted a series of photos showing off his charm on social media. In particular, netizens noticed Ha Jung Woo leaving a comment, “So beautiful,” to compliment Go Hyun Jung’s appearance.
Go Hyun Jung, 52, looks strikingly different from her past image as the “Samsung family’s rejected daughter-in-law.”
Ha Jung Woo’s interaction with Go Hyun Jung surprised and entertained the audience. Many fans are now curious to know how close the two stars are, as Ha Jung Woo has openly praised her on social media. Some netizens even speculated that the couple might be secretly dating. However, others are skeptical about a romantic relationship between the two. The stars had previously worked together on a film and shared a close professional bond. Therefore, their online interaction and compliments may simply reflect a normal, friendly relationship.
As a result, Go Hyun Jung and Ha Jung Woo starred together in the MBC drama HIT (2007). Last July the two stars reunited after 7-8 years without contact. Ha Jung Woo expressed his gratitude to singer Jung Jae Hyung for helping him reconnect with his long-lost co-star, Go Hyun Jung.
Go Hyun-jung’s failed marriage
Go Hyun-jung was born in 1971 and graduated with a degree in Performing Arts from Korea’s leading private university, Dongguk University. At the age of 18, she won first runner-up in the Miss Korea pageant. With this solid foundation, she entered the entertainment industry with a series of hit dramas and left a strong impression on audiences, making her one of the A-list stars.
In 1995, in the midst of her rising career, she suddenly announced her marriage to the grandson of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul. At that time, the Shinsegae Group still belonged to Samsung, and its legendary mother-in-law Lee Myung-hee took over as president with a fortune of $1.3 billion. According to Naver, Go and her husband met by chance at the Winter Garden theater in New York City.
Before she officially divorced him in November 2003, the public had repeatedly raised rumors about her unhappy marriage through pictures taken by journalists at the wealthy family’s events. After 8 years of marriage, Go Hyun-jung left the Lee family with compensation of only 1.5 billion won and agreed to give up custody of her two children. Two years after the divorce, Shinsegae passed a ruling that none of their stores were allowed to display anything Go-related.
Go Hyun-jung’s observations on life during and after marriage
In an episode of MBC’s “Golden Fishery – The Guru Show” broadcast on January 21, 2009, Go Hyun-jung was asked if she had been isolated by her husband’s family who used foreign languages when chatting in front of her. The actress responded “There is absolutely no such thing, they are all educated people and they will not do such childish things in front of other people.”
“We dated for 2 years. I got married when I was 22, he was 25. Because I was young at the time, I didn’t understand what it would be like to become a chaebol. When I married him many said that I married for money but absolutely not. I really liked him a lot, he has a good sense of humor and a good personality. We always encourage each other to be better. In my eyes there was only him, I really wanted to give birth to his children and have many children together. I liked it so much that I retired because of it.
Go Hyun-jung said that she would marry her ex-husband again if he was just a normal person. When asked about the difficulties of being the bride of a chaebol, she implied that she could not meet the high expectations that a tycoon’s wife must have. “I think I got married too young. We were no longer dating and had entered the married state. If I learned more and met him when I was more mature, I think I could meet the expectations that I couldn’t meet at the time.
More than 20 years after the divorce, Go has released statements considered rather ironic. Specifically, in the recent talk show broadcast on musician Jeong Jae-hyung’s YouTube channel, Go praised the dishes on the table for their excellent taste, Jeong then replied: “They were purchased at the Hyundai shopping center.” The actress laughed and said, “Thanks, I’m glad it’s not from Shinsegae.” The actress shared, “I was quite determined and I have no regrets about getting married. I am very grateful that everyone is interested in this wedding. However, many private photos were taken. I don’t want to be photographed like that, but there are many situations where I can’t do anything.” Sharing why he has few works compared to his peers, he honestly said it’s because he has received few invitations.
Go Hyun-jung and her ex-husband Chung Yong-jin’s life after the divorce
After the divorce, Go returned to the entertainment industry and worked for her brother’s company, IOK Company. She made a name for herself with productions such as Queen Seondeok (2009), Queen’s Classroom (2013), Mask Girl (2023).
According to Naver, after the divorce, Chung Yong-jin had a hard time forgetting his ex-wife before he got married to the daughter of the vice president of Korea Air in 2011. As Lee Myung-hee’s only child, he is always among the 50 richest people in Korea. After 18 years, on March 8, he officially becomes President of the Shinsegae Group. In addition to possessing enormous wealth, he also has an Instagram account with more than 884,000 followers.
Read more about Go Hyun-jung’s relationship with Samsung
Chung Yong-jin is the grandson of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul. The late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee is his uncle, and Chairman Lee Jae-yong is his cousin. Before the divorce in 1997, Shinsegae was a subsidiary of Samsung, so Go Hyun-jung is still considered the former daughter-in-law of the Samsung family.
Go, Hyun Jung’s two sons
After getting married, the actress gave birth to her first son, Chung Hae-chan, in 1998, and her daughter, Chung Hae-in, in 2000.
In the book “Beauty Docu – Go Hyun Jung’s Texture”, he shared: “I am a Pisces, this symbol is like the connection between parents and children, connected by an eternal thread, from the beginning, even when the umbilical cord is cut or when they can’t see each other. I wish them happiness always.” This is a rare occasion where Go shared his children.
Like many other Chaebol children, Hae-chan and Hae-in were sent to America for their studies. Hae-chan holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel management from the prestigious Cornell University and a master’s degree in fitness and sports management from Indiana University.
Hae-in was the president of the Korean Student Association at Syracuse University and majored in Marketing. In contrast to their billionaire backgrounds, both brothers live private lives.