Like K-Dramas, IRL relationships between celebrities can seem like fairytales as stars show their love to the world. On the other hand, these relationships can be like those we see on the screens; instead of romance, there is heartbreak and drama that seem torn out of a drama about betrayal.
Here are some of the “messiest” K-Celeb break-ups.
1. Han So Hee & Ryu Jun Yeol
After a tourist spotted Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol together on vacation, rumors of their relationship began to spread. Girl’s Day‘s Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol’s ex-girlfriend of eight years, seemingly responded to the rumors with an Instagram story.
The two were involved in allegations of “transit love,” as Han So Hee sniped back, saying she didn’t meddle in others’ relationships. Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol confirmed their relationship, which only triggered more speculation about the true start of their romance.
Hyeri implied that though they had broken up, she thought the pair would later meet to discuss their relationship, but Ryu Jun Yeol started dating Han So Hee instead. Han So Hee would lash out at Hyeri again, denying this. Ultimately, the couple broke up, with Han So Hee getting one last hit at Ryu Jun Yeol.
2. Hwang Jung Eum & Lee Young Don
Actress Hwang Jung Eum filed for divorce from her husband, businessman Lee Young Don, after eight years of marriage. The actress had previously considered divorce in 2020 but decided against it.
This time around, Hwang Jung Eum has not held back, publically exposing her husband’s alleged infidelity and clapping back at those defending his cheating ways.
3. Jamie And Goo Min Chul
Solo singer Jamie and The Iron Squad season 2 contestant Goo Min Chul first announced their relationship in November 2022.
Just months later, in January 2023, Jamie shared and deleted multiple photos on her Instagram story, alleging that Goo Min Chul had cheated on her with 4-5 women and that they would be breaking up.
4. Former Topp Dogg’s P-Goon and former Rania’s Yumin
Former leader of Topp Dogg, P-Goon, and ex-Rania‘s Yumin shocked many with their wedding announcement. The pair would tie the knot officially in August 2018, with Yumin giving birth to their son that December.
P-Goon revealed their child before the two could come to a previously discussed plan, and Yumin only found out about it through an acquaintance. She also shared that the pair’s marital conflict only grew larger and larger, and she was raising the child on her own, leading to their divorce.
5. Goo Hye Sun & Ahn Jae Hyun
Actors Goo Hye Sun and Ahn Jae Hyun were shipped from the moment they appeared in the drama Blood. In March 2016, Dispatch shared photos of the couple, revealing their relationship; they were officially married in May 2016.
In August 2019, Goo Hye Sun released a statement on Instagram, accusing her husband of many things and claiming he had filed for divorce because he no longer found her sexually attractive and was bored with their marriage.
When I asked him what I did wrong, he would say that I wasn’t sexy. My husband told me that he wanted to divorce me because my nipples weren’t sexy. Even while we were together, he became bored with our marriage and would fall asleep while watching YouTube videos that only men who were bored with their marriage would listen to…
— Goo Hye Sun
She also stated that he would call other women while intoxicated, hide conversations from her, and that he had an affair with an actress he was filming with.
6. U-KISS’ Eli & Ji Yeon Soo
In 2014, U-KISS‘s Eli revealed he had married racing model Ji Yeon Soo behind his parent’s back. The two then had a son, born in 2016.
Eli announced that the pair had separated in November 2020, saying he was in the United States while she remained in Korea with their son. Ji Yeon Soo revealed on a reality show that they had both moved to the United States and while she went back to get some documentation for her visa, he called her and told her about the divorce.
She said that he made the entire process difficult, delaying her ability to file for divorce in Korea as he was already registered as single after giving up his Korean citizenship. Ji Yeon Soo also said that Eli’s mother allegedly stole money, and her credit was ruined due to taking on most of their bills, as Eli spent money on supercars instead.
Following their divorce, the pair appeared on We Got Divorced 2, where Eli first claimed he wanted to reconcile and moved back to Korea. He went back on this shortly after, saying that he didn’t love her as a woman, just as the mother of his child.
