Hwang Jung Eum and professional basketball player Kim Jong-kyu, who plays for the South Korean national team, confirmed their relationship on July 22, 2024. However, they broke up just two weeks later, as reported on August 5, 2024. Hwang Jung Eum’s agency, Y1 Entertainment, confirmed the news, stating that the two decided to return to being friends.
The South Korean star debuted as a member of the girl group Sugar in 2002 before transitioning to acting. She starred in hits like “Kill Me, Heal Me” and “She Was Pretty.” Most recently, she appeared in SBS’s “The Escape of the Seven.” The 39-year-old actress is currently going through a divorce with her former golfer-turned-CEO husband, Lee Young Don. They married in 2016 and have two children. Their first son was born in 2017. The couple almost divorced in 2020 but reconciled before having a second son in 2022.
Meanwhile, 33-year-old Kim Jong-kyu is seven years younger than Hwang Jung Eum. When their relationship was revealed, Hwang’s agency confirmed that the two had recently developed good feelings toward each other and were carefully getting to know one another. Their dating news led to criticism from Korean netizens. While the specific reason for their breakup was not stated, many believe the couple felt pressured as it’s certainly not the first time a celebrity couple’s romance has been short-lived after going public.
