A Scandal that Ends Badly for Everyone
One year ago, one of the most talked-about celebrity controversies erupted, leaving behind a wave of speculation and public debate. Now, in March 2025, the stars involved have moved on, focusing on their careers.
On March 18, 2024, Hyeri, Ryu Jun-yeol, and Han So-hee became embroiled in a highly publicized love triangle. Hyeri, Ryu Jun-yeol’s former girlfriend of eight years, posted a cryptic message saying “Interesting” shortly after rumors surfaced that he was dating Han So-hee. This single word ignited an online firestorm, with Han So-hee responding, “I find it interesting too”, followed by various other controversial remarks.
The situation quickly spiraled as accusations of “rebound dating” and emotional conflicts played out in the public eye. Hyeri later clarified, “Although our breakup was reported in November, we had discussions about our relationship even after that. However, after our last conversation, we neither contacted nor met again. Seeing the news four months later, I reacted as a person, not as an actress.”
Han So-hee, on the other hand, faced severe backlash for her reactions, leading her agency to issue a strong statement, stating, “As a human being and an actress, she has endured immense stress due to reckless speculation and malicious comments. We will take strict actions against defamation.”
Despite their public defenses, Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol broke up just 15 days after confirming their relationship. Both Hyeri and Han So-hee later posted apologies, attempting to put an end to the controversy.
Now, a year later, all three have shifted their focus back to their careers. Ryu Jun-yeol is preparing for the release of his new film “Revelations” on March 21. Hyeri has announced her first solo fan meeting to celebrate her 15th anniversary in the industry. Han So-hee recently graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar’s April issue, where she reflected on the past year, stating, “I’ve learned that honesty requires responsibility. Since there are fans, friends, and people who listen to my words, I’m working hard to be more responsible with my honesty.”
A Lesson on Image Management
In an interview in the past, veteran Korean actress Kim Hye-ja once said, “I don’t scold my juniors. I’m out of energy. I’d rather gather all of this energy to act on set.”
The title of a “great actor” cannot be obtained simply from acting in a country like Korea. Actor Oh Yeon-soo said in a program that he refrained from appearing on variety shows after learning it from a veteran senior. This is because when an actor becomes a cast of a variety show, the actor’s usual image is imprinted on the public, so it can interfere with the public’s immersion in his drama or movie where he transforms into a character. This shows that actors and actresses need to thoroughly self-manage to stay true to their main job, acting.
An actor is a very unique being to the public. They want to know everything about him, but does not want to break the fantasy he has created. In that sense, the “transit love controversyl is bound to be negative for all three stars, Han So-hee, Ryu Jun-yeol, and Hyeri. When they act in any drama or movie later on, there scandal will come to viewers’ mind first.
Director Han Jae-rim, whose new drama “Delusion” had Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee on the list as the main cast, is inevitably burdensome to cast the two right now.
Han So-hee lost some brand deals after the controversy. Ryu Jun-yeol, who is serving as an ambassador for Greenpeace, an international environmental group, was criticized by netizens for his non-environment-friendly hobby of playing golf. Hyeri has been receiving malicious comments on Instagram. For a Korean actor, drinking, smoking and exercising are not everything when it comes to self-management. Social media is also an aspect of self-management.