Han So-hee shuts down blog amid backlash over relationship with Ryu Joon-yeol
Actors Ryu Joon-yeol, left, and Han So-hee
Actors Ryu Joon-yeol and Han So-hee are lying low after they made their relationship public earlier this month. However, rumors surrounding their relationship haven't subsided.
Ryu, who was seen with Han in Hawaii, returned home alone on Sunday, wearing a hat, a mask and a hoodie, to avoid drawing attention amid the rumors about his relationship with Han.
His solo arrival sparked further interest among fans and media alike.
Han, on the same day, shut down her blog, where she used to write and interact with fans. This follows a wave of negative comments, presumably steeming from the announcement of her relationship with Ryu.
The couple's relationship came under scrutiny following eyewitness accounts of them being together in Hawaii, reported on Thursday. Despite their agencies' efforts to not give out details, confirming only their stay in Hawaii without delving into details, the speculation around their relationship escalated, particularly after Ryu's ex-girlfriend, Lee Hye-ri — better known as Hyeri — posted a cryptic comment, "interesting," on her social media, adding fuel to the fire.
Some speculated that Ryu had started dating Han shortly after his breakup with Hyeri.
Han later admitted on her blog that she and Ryu have good feelings and are in a relationship. However, he drew the line at "transit romance." She wrote, "The time we exchanged feelings was at the beginning of 2024. I heard they broke up in early 2023," she said, indirectly referring to Ryu and Hyeri.
Han also acknowledged that she had sniped at Hyeri on social media, saying, "I lost my temper and was rude, and I apologize to her as well, and I apologize for not handling it wisely."
In response to a comment asking why she revealed the timing of another couple's breakup in the post, she said, "I didn't hear it personally, but I wrote it based on an article from last year. If it was rude, I'll delete it," she replied.
Han added, "I will humbly accept that my image has been tarnished by this incident."
On March 18, Han's management company, 9ato Entertainment, announced a strong stance against defamation, addressing the severe mental distress the actress has been enduring due to speculative posts and malicious comments circulating online.
In a statement, the agency said, "Before being an actress, she is a person who is going through a tremendously hard time because of indiscriminately written speculative posts and malicious comments."
The agency made it clear that they will respond decisively to any actions that tarnish or harm the artist's reputation, regardless of the severity of the malicious content. They also encouraged netizens to report any defamatory content they come across.
Furthermore, 9ato Entertainment expressed their intention to reflect deeply on the concerns caused to many during the process of announcing the actress's relationship. "The agency and the actress will take this time to reflect deeply on the concerns we've caused and ensure the actress moves in the right direction. We will closely monitor the situation and do our utmost to protect our artist," they assured.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by staff at The Korea Times.