Ko Hyun-jung draws attention for liking photo of ex-husband’s niece, idol Annie

From left, Annie of idol group ALLDAY Project, Shinsegae Group Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee and actress Ko Hyun-jung / Xportsnews

Actor Ko Hyun-jung has stirred online buzz after she pressed “like” on a photo of Annie, a member of the K-pop group ALLDAY Project and granddaughter of Shinsegae Group Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee.

Ko recently liked a W Korea Instagram post featuring Annie (born Moon Seo-yoon), sparking discussion across online communities and social media platforms.

The gesture drew attention because Annie is the niece of Ko’s former husband, Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin. Ko was part of the Shinsegae family before the couple divorced in 2003, a connection that amplified public interest in the seemingly casual interaction.

Annie, the eldest daughter of Chung Yoo-kyung, President of Shinsegae Department Store, attracted widespread attention when she debuted due to her status as a third-generation chaebol.

Online commenters speculated about the past connection, noting that Ko divorced in 2003 and has a daughter born in 2000, close in age to Annie, who was born in 2002. Comments ranged from curiosity about whether Ko had met Annie as a child, to lighthearted remarks about the family resemblance.

With Ko’s small gesture making headlines, her past ties with the Shinsegae family — and Annie’s status as a chaebol-born idol — have again come into the spotlight.

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