New evidence has reignited speculation about a past romantic relationship between Kim Jong Kook and Yoon Eun Hye, both longtime fixtures in the K-pop and Korean entertainment industries.
This week, fans on social media and online forums were sent into a frenzy after two resurfaced photos revealed that Kim Jong Kook and Yoon Eun Hye had visited the same tanning salon on the same day, June 10, 2008. The images, which include handwritten “Thank you” notes and timestamps, appear to show both stars at the exact location just hours apart.
The discovery has added fuel to a rumor mill that has been spinning for nearly two decades, ever since the two appeared on the Korean variety show X-Man in the early 2000s. Their on-screen chemistry at the time was a fan favorite, sparking widespread speculation about a possible real-life romance, rumors that have never quite gone away.
Rumors resurfaced in 2022 when Yoon Eun Hye shared a story on her YouTube channel about a past boyfriend, which many viewers interpreted as a veiled reference to Kim Jong Kook.
“Guys send a lot of texts early on, but it fades with time,” she said in the now-deleted video. “Girls can’t help but feel disappointed.” She added that she once documented the messages she received in a notebook because her boyfriend had become less communicative over time.
Fans were quick to point out the parallels with a story Kim Jong Kook told back in 2018 on the Korean variety show My Little Old Boy. Recalling a past relationship, he said, “There was someone who wrote down all the texts I sent her. As time went on, my messages got shorter.” Kim Jong Kook even brought the notebook on set, much to the surprise of viewers.
The uncanny similarity between their stories led fans to believe they were referencing each other, especially given the timing and the emotional tone in both recollections.
Shortly after the video went viral, Yoon Eun Hye deleted it from her channel, citing technical issues as the reason. She expressed regret over its removal and announced a short break to reorganize her content, an explanation that did little to quiet fan theories.
Despite the renewed attention, Yoon Eun Hye’s agency, JARMY Entertainment, has maintained a firm denial. In a statement to Sports Chosun, a representative said, “The dating rumors between Yoon Eun Hye and Kim Jong Kook are not true,” reaffirming that the two stars were never romantically involved.
