With various controversies, Han So-hee’s relationship with Ryu Jun-yeol is bringing her more losses than gains.
Han So-hee is losing too much
Since the news of her dating Ryu Jun-yeol emerged, Han So-hee has always been in a dire position. The actress has been labeled with nicknames such as “the third party”, “the mistress”, and was even compared to her role in “The World of The Married”.
Initially, the hatred towards Han So-hee only existed among fans of Ryu Jun-yeol and Hyeri’s 7-year relationship. However, as the actress speaks more about her new romance, criticisms also intensifies.
Here is a breakdown of the entire situation and explanation why Han So-hee seems to be digging herself into a hole:
- On March 14th, a netizen discovered Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee dating in Hawaii, USA.
- On the afternoon of March 15th, Ryu Jun-yeol’s ex-girlfriend, Hyeri, posted a photo of a resort, captioning it “It’s interesting” and unfollowed the male actor.
- In the evening of March 15th, Han So-hee posted a response, roughly saying that she isn’t interested in taken men and doesn’t interfere in other people’s relationships.”
- On the morning of March 16th, Han So-hee confirmed that she is dating Ryu Jun-yeol.
- In the afternoon of March 16th, Han So-hee responded to comments from fans, claiming to have known about Ryu Jun-yeol and Hyeri’s breakup since June 2023 through an article. However, in reality, the breakup of the “Reply 1988” couple was first reported in November 2023.
Accordingly, before March 16th, there were still fans standing by Han So-hee and believing that she did not interfere in other people’s relationships. Han So-hee speaking up immediately after being accused of being a mistress helped reassure her fans.
However, because she was too quick to react, Han So-hee’s words only led to more mistakes. This resulted in the repercussion that nobody wants to hear her explanations.
Then, Dispatch released information that Ryu Jun-yeol and Hyeri had been drifting apart since June 2023, confirming that Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee’s relationship started only after the former’s break up.
However, Han So-hee’s public image has already soured, and nobody believes the actress anymore.
Amidst almost being turned away by audiences everywhere, Han So-hee’s behavior after the “stormy trip” to Hawaii only further subjected her to criticism.
Appearing at Incheon International Airport on March 18th, Han So-hee confidently interacted with reporters’ cameras. The actress’s calm and bright demeanor at the airport after losing 100,000 followers was seen as arrogant by the public.
Additionally, Han So-hee’s continuous flipping of her hair and showing off a ring on her ring finger, also received mixed reactions. Some even compared the actress’s behavior to the mistress Jung Soo-min in “Marry My Husband” and accused her of lying. Then, when a friend spoke up to defend Han So-hee, saying it was “a friendship ring,” the audience didn’t care.
At the time, comments regarding Han So-hee were filled with negativity, such as “Being so cheerful even after losing 100,000 followers, she probably doesn’t think it’s a problem,” “Seeing how proud she is of the uproar she’s involved in. We don’t know if the mistress rumor is true, but is it right to be so happy about it?”, among others.
As the drama continued, news against Han So-hee also started to emerge..
In particular, Sports Seoul reported that NH Bank decided to end its cooperation with Han So-hee. She has been the face of the bank since 2021, with a 3-year contract. It was speculated that the bank was fearing the wave of boycotts from audiences, and so decided not to renew their contract with Han So-hee.
Lotte Chilsung also ended their contract with the actress after a year, despite having a track record for always employing its models for around 3 years.
Of course, Han So-hee’s side has since affirmed that these contracts ending have nothing to do with the ongoing controversy, but netizens remain vigilant.
What will happen to Han So-hee?
In contrast to Han So-hee’s immediate actions after the scandal, Ryu Jun-yeol is “wiser” as he quietly returns home, keeping a low profile and avoiding too much controversy.
Ryu Jun-yeol also changed his flight schedule to not return at the same time as Han So-hee. He kept his head down and refused to answer any questions from the media.
On March 19th, at the first event after the emotional uproar, Ryu Jun-yeol remained cold. According to Mydaily, a staff member advised reporters beforehand not to ask the male actor to pose on the red carpet.
After being criticized for publicly revealing his relationship with Han So-hee, Ryu Jun-yeol doesn’t want to confront the audience. The actor has been in the entertainment industry long enough to understand that this is the best way to limit becoming a topic of discussion.
In the past, many rising stars have seen their careers halted due to personal scandals.
In 2019, after divorcing Goo Hye-sun, actor Ahn Jae-hyun was “boycotted”. The image of a cold man with his wife led to a noisy divorce, causing many brands to worry and terminate contracts with the actor. His career, which had only just begun to flourish, faltered due to relationship scandals.
In 2021, Kim Jung-hyun’s romantic affairs affected his work, and Seo Ye-ji’s controlling behavior towards her ex-boyfriend also led to a downturn in the careers of both actors.
At that time, Kim Jung-hyun was gaining attention for his role in “Mr. Queen”, while his ex-girlfriend Seo Ye-ji had a successful run with “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”. Despite apologizing, the two lost many contracts. Some viewers even sent petitions to the government’s website, demanding Kim Jung-hyun be kicked out of the entertainment industry.
Returning to Han So-hee, the actress’s continuous explanations and conflicts with the audience, and even her recent airport appearance, are likely to significantly affect her work.
Currently, it’s not crucial for Han So-hee to explain her relationship. Instead, what she needs to do is find a way to regain the audience’s favor, and this is not going to be easy.
