K-pop stars show ‘human side’ with public love lives – but could also get caught in scandal

Evolving landscape of romantic relationships of idols in South Korea has seen more lenient attitudes in recent years, analysts say

But disclosure of romantic relationships still tends to hurt those in the K-pop scene, with most K-pop idols typically adhering to ‘meticulously crafted images’

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K-pop boy band Highlight at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2018. The openness of K-pop stars about their love lives gained renewed attention when solo artist HyunA shared posted an image on Instagram of herself and former Highlight member Yong Jun-hyung (left) holding hands at a beach. Photo: SCMP/Roy Issa

Published: 6:58pm, 21 Jan 2024

The revelation of romantic connections between K-pop stars has always sparked intense debate regarding its impact on the careers of the artists and their public image.

This subject gained renewed attention when solo artist HyunA shared posted an image on Instagram of herself and former Highlight member Yong Jun-hyung holding hands at a beach, igniting speculation about a potential romance.

While the two have not directly confirmed their relationship, fans appear convinced of their romantic involvement, citing online posts about their visit together to a local restaurant a few months ago.

This is not HyunA’s first time being in the spotlight due to her personal life.

In 2018, she announced her relationship with Dawn, a member of Pentagon, a boy group under her former agency, Cube Entertainment. Despite their enduring relationship and engagement in February 2022, the two announced their separation nine months later.

HyunA’s relationship with Dawn experienced its share of challenges, as both were expelled from Cube as a result of publicly disclosing their relationship without discussing it with the agency beforehand.