Retired golf star Pak Se-ri recalls dating Hong Kong tycoon heir

Pak Se-ri / Xportsnews

Retired golf star Pak Se-ri has confirmed past dating rumors involving the son of a Hong Kong billionaire, revealing new details during a recent television appearance.

On the Wednesday episode of the tvN STORY program “Table Tales,” Pak joined special guest Jang Seo-hee and fellow panelists Hwang Chi-yeul, Park Ji-hyun and Kim Poong.

Pak shared candid memories of her past relationships during the show. When asked about her dating life, she said, “I had someone throughout my time as a professional golfer,” drawing attention with her honesty.

“At the height of my career, when I wasn’t doing well in tournaments, people would gossip and say, ‘She’s distracted by romance,’ and I hated that,” she explained. “Even though I was in a relationship, I couldn’t do simple things like hold hands in public. But if I had a boyfriend now, I’d hold hands and walk around freely.”

Pak Se-ri / Captured from tvN

The conversation soon turned to a high-profile dating rumor that once linked her to the heir of one of the world’s top 20 richest families.

Pak acknowledged the relationship with a smile. “He was very capable,” she said, before co-host Lee Young-ja teased, “So you dated him for the money?” Pak laughed and replied, “No, he made the first move.”

She recounted how they met while taking golf lessons. “I was practicing, and he came for lessons too. We started seeing each other from there,” she said. “We couldn’t speak the same language, but somehow we still connected. Thanks to him, my English improved really fast.”

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.