Dating in the entertainment industry is a sensitive topic. However, Lee Dong Gun was brave enough to go public with his relationships 5 times, but without a happy ending in return. Not only that, his image is also tainted in the eyes of the public after several failed relationships.
Kim Min-Jung
Lee Dong Gun first publicly dated Kim Min Jung. They started meeting in May 2002 after working on an MBC project. Both Kim Min Jung and Lee Dong Gun were rookie actors at the time, so their relationship didn’t garner much attention. They broke up after 1.5 years due to different personalities.
Han Ji Hye
Han Ji Hye and Lee Dong Gun were the most talked about couples of the 2000s. They joined the cast of “Sweet 18” and dated in real life. They often talked about each other during appearances at public events. Later, the two worked together in “My Boyfriend Is Type B.”
In January 2008, the actress deleted all photos of the actor on her personal SNS and announced their breakup. Although the stars themselves did not reveal the reason, it was reported that their busy schedules were limiting their time with each other. However, they remain close friends. Han Ji Hye was one of the first people to come to Lee Dong Gun’s brother’s funeral to offer her condolences.
Cha Ye Ryun
Lee Dong Gun dated Cha Ye Ryun, who is 5 years younger than him, in 2008. Jongang Ilbo reported that they were friends in the same group for years. Ye Ryun stood by the actor’s side and comforted him over his brother’s passing. They developed feelings and became closer after starring in “Star’s Lovers.”
The couple was seen in bars and restaurants. In the two years they spent together, Dong Gun and Ye Ryun tried various ways to overcome their differences and mend their relationship, but to no avail. In 2010, Lee Dong Gun joined the army and the couple broke up.
T-ARA’s Jiyeon
Lee Dong Gun started dating T-ARA Jiyeon in July 2015 after a paparazzo captured an intimate photo of the two at a restaurant. They became close after working on “Encounter”.
Unlike other relationships, Lee Dong Gun’s relationship with Jiyeon was met with negative reactions. The public belittled Jiyeon for her idol background and criticized her due to the bullying controversy going on in T-ARA at the time. They also targeted Lee Dong Gun for dating a woman 13 years his junior.
Hurt by the constant cyber attack, Jiyeon once cried during the live stream. In light of the event, Lee Dong Gun publicly stated that he was not bothered by the age difference; in fact, he turned out to be the “immature” one in the relationship and had to rely on her for many issues. In return, Jiyeon complimented her partner for being thoughtful and considerate. However, the couple broke up in 2017 due to busy schedules.
In December 2022, Jiyeon got married to baseball star Hwang Jae Gyun. However, in 2024, Jiyeon announced that the two filed for divorce to end their two-year marriage.
In a statement released by her legal representative, Jiyeon said both parties initiated the process by mutual agreement after being unable to resolve their differences. The couple reached a mutual agreement to separate after a period of living separately, as they need time to finalize the proceedings, which have been filed in the Seoul Family Court.
Jo Yoon Hee
26 days after breaking up with Jiyeon, Lee Dong Gun was discovered to be dating Jo Yoon Hee, his co-star in “The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop”. Three months later, they announced the wedding and the bride was two months pregnant. Netizens criticized Lee Dong Gun for cheating and Jo Yoon Hee for being the third wheel.
Having overcome hatred and criticism, in December 2017, Lee Dong Gun welcomed his first child. Three years later, the actor divorced his wife. He admitted that he hurt her in many ways, such as forgetting their anniversary or making her feel insignificant.
Lee Dong Gun lost custody of his son after the divorce. However, Jo Yoon Hee agreed to co-parent with him to raise their daughter. After 3 years, he returned with “Celebrity”. Explaining the hiatus, the actor said he wanted to take care of his daughter during the early stages of her life. He added that even though he couldn’t be with her all the time, he tried to make her feel less sad and alone about not having a father figure.
Source: KB
