The Korean entertainment industry saw its fair share of relationship news in 2026, with several unexpected twists throughout the year. Longtime celebrity couples that many expected to marry went their separate ways, while surprising new relationships made headlines. Some romances and even marriages also came to light only after the couples had already split or decided to tie the knot.
Breakups
Girls’ Generation member and actress Choi Sooyoung and actor Jung Kyung Ho officially confirmed their breakup in June. The two first met in 2012 and went public with their relationship in 2014. They became one of the entertainment industry’s most beloved longtime couples, openly expressing their affection and supporting each other’s acting careers through interviews, television appearances, and social media. However, they decided to part ways and remain colleagues after 14 years together.
IU and Lee Jong Suk also ended their relationship after nearly four years of public dating. The two first met as co-hosts of SBS’s Inkigayo in 2012 and remained friends for years before becoming a couple in 2022. Their relationship drew widespread attention after Lee Jong Suk delivered a heartfelt speech at an awards ceremony, admitting that he had liked and admired IU for a long time. The couple later described each other as people who helped them become better versions of themselves. Despite their affection, they eventually decided to focus on their respective careers and support each other as colleagues.
Yoo Seung Ho and Lim Se Joo also ended their six-year relationship. The two first met while filming the 2020 tvN drama Memorist and quietly dated for years. Their relationship only became public after they had already broken up. Yoo Seung Ho’s agency confirmed that the two had dated in the past but were no longer together.
New Relationships
T.O.P and Nana, formerly of After School, became one of the year’s most talked-about new celebrity couples. The two first met while working on the music video for “Studio 54,” a double-title track from T.O.P’s solo album Another Dimension. They grew closer during the collaboration and began dating in June. Their respective agencies confirmed the relationship, while Nana candidly admitted that she felt a little embarrassed by the attention but hoped to build a happy and healthy relationship with him.
Singer Chang Kiha and actress Yoon Gai also attracted attention after confirming their relationship despite an 18-year age difference. The two first met through Coupang Play’s SNL Korea in 2023 and gradually grew closer through their shared interests in music, film, and other creative pursuits. Born in 1982 and 2000, respectively, they reportedly developed a strong connection across generations and had been dating for approximately two years.
Weddings
Ha Jung Woo is set to marry Cha Jung Won on December 13th at a hotel in Seoul. The private ceremony will be attended by family members and close friends. The couple reportedly first met around 2020 and spent six years building their relationship away from the public eye before deciding to get married.
Singer and artist Solbi and actor Lee Kyu Han are also preparing to tie the knot. The two first met on the third season of the variety show Pursuing Old Encounters in 2025 and recently held a formal family meeting ahead of their wedding. They are planning to marry in April 2027. Solbi shared a couple photo on social media and expressed her excitement about finding a lifelong partner with whom she could build a future.
Ji Ye Eun and Vata are another couple preparing for marriage. The two went public with their relationship in April and are set to marry on December 12th, just eight months later. Yoo Jae Suk, who helped bring them together through Running Man, will host the wedding, while Kim Jong Kook will perform a congratulatory song. Ji Ye Eun said she wanted to build a happy life with someone who always stood by her side, while Bada described her as a gift who taught him what love means.
Divorces
Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko and Kim Sumi announced their divorce in January, ending their 15-year marriage. Gaeko personally shared the news on social media, explaining that they had decided to end their marriage after many long conversations and a mutual decision to respect each other’s lives. The couple married in 2011 and have two children, a son and a daughter. They also emphasized that they would continue to share parental responsibilities and raise their children together.
Former Sechs Kies member Ko Ji Yong also revealed that he had divorced his wife, doctor Hur Yang Im, two years earlier. The couple married in December 2013 and have a son together. Ko explained that he had kept the divorce private because he wanted to give their son time to understand the situation and grow up in a stable environment. He added that although they were no longer married, he would continue to fulfill his responsibilities as a father.
However, the former couple later became involved in a dispute over visitation rights. Ko’s side claimed that he had only been able to see his son a handful of times over the two years following the divorce, despite paying child support. Hur’s side responded that the couple had not established a separate regular visitation agreement when they divorced. Her representatives also stated that she had already filed a petition with the court to establish visitation arrangements in hopes of resolving the misunderstanding.
>> ‘Flower Boy Ramen Shop’ Actor Do Sang Woo Announces February 2027 Wedding to Top Model Park Ji Hye
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source (1)
