Actors Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee, who once made headlines with their romance, have unexpectedly been brought up again in Cannes, France! While they’ve moved on to become “ex-boyfriend” and “ex-girlfriend” who can now be discussed with a smile, the article suggests it’s time to shift focus from their two-year-old private life to their exciting upcoming projects.
Ryu Jun Yeol was spotted in Cannes, France on May 13th! With the 79th Cannes Film Festival having just kicked off on May 12th (local time), the actor’s presence at the event quickly caught the attention of global fans.
A representative from a Japanese film distribution company who met Ryu Jun Yeol, shared a photo with him on her personal SNS, confirming his presence. In the picture, Ryu Jun Yeol radiated a relaxed vibe, enjoying the Cannes Film Festival with a gentle smile. It was revealed that he attended the festival primarily as a film buyer, not just as an actor!
The eyewitness account was quite amusing! Kogawa Natsumi shared, “I met Ryu Jun Yeol at the Cannes Film Festival. He mentioned he was there as a buyer. When I told him I’d also distributed Korean films, he asked, ‘Which ones?'” She then confessed, “I thought it might be a bit awkward to mention a film starring Han So Hee, given the past reports of their relationship. So, I cautiously replied, ‘Heavy Snow’.” Ryu Jun Yeol reportedly laughed and responded, “Of course I know. That’s really interesting!”
The romance between Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee made a huge splash in Korea in 2024, so much so that a Japanese film official was careful when mentioning it! Rumors ignited when stories of their joint trip to Hawaii circulated. Both agencies remained silent, citing “private life.” However, things got heated when singer and actress Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol’s former public girlfriend, posted “It’s fun” on her personal SNS. This instantly fueled suspicions of a “transfer” relationship from Hyeri to Han So Hee.
As netizens debated furiously across Hyeri and Han So Hee’s SNS accounts, Ryu Jun Yeol eventually confirmed his relationship with Han So Hee, bringing a temporary halt to the drama. Both Han So Hee and Hyeri later exchanged apologies via SNS, concluding their emotional online dispute. However, the intense public scrutiny and the highly publicized SNS exchanges proved to be too much. Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee announced their breakup a mere 14 days later, and they have been on their separate paths ever since.
For a period, any mention of Ryu Jun Yeol, Han So Hee, or Hyeri in official settings became a sensitive topic. In his first interview after the controversy, Ryu Jun Yeol cautiously remained silent on related questions, stating, “I have no intention of speaking.” Similarly, both Hyeri and Han So Hee faced questions about their private lives, dubbed the “It’s Fun Battle,” at their respective drama production press conferences. They both apologized to their production teams and co-stars for their personal issues overshadowing the focus on their work.
Now, two years later, Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee have been unexpectedly mentioned together again in Cannes. While the story seems lighthearted, it’s debatable whether the actors themselves would find the situation amusing. It’s unclear from a single online eyewitness account whether Ryu Jun Yeol’s laughing reply of “Of course I know” was specifically about Han So Hee or simply about the film itself. Moreover, it would have been awkward for Ryu Jun Yeol to dodge a personal life question from an international film official who is deeply invested in distributing Korean cinema.
In Korea, the past private life controversy involving Ryu Jun Yeol, Han So Hee, and Hyeri has largely become old news. In fact, earlier this year, a group MT celebrating the 10th anniversary of the tvN drama ‘Reply 1988’ – where Ryu Jun Yeol and Hyeri’s characters developed a romance – was even revealed! Ryu Jun Yeol, who initially couldn’t attend due to his schedule, made time to visit, and his indirect reunion with Hyeri, now his “ex-ex-girlfriend,” garnered attention. However, the focus quickly shifted to the significance of ‘Reply 1988’s 10th anniversary. With Hyeri also reportedly in a new public relationship with dancer Wootae, the discussion strongly centered on the drama’s cherished memories.
Now, this lighthearted perspective on their past has even been “re-imported” to Korea via the international film official’s eyewitness account! It’s a welcome sign that the tense atmosphere surrounding their past, once a sensitive topic, is finally easing. More importantly, Ryu Jun Yeol, Han So Hee, and Hyeri are all actively working and remain pivotal stars in the Korean content industry. Ryu Jun Yeol is gearing up for the release of the Netflix original drama ‘The Rat’ and will also star in another Netflix project, ‘Outback.’ Han So Hee’s film ‘Intern’ is set to premiere, and she’s currently filming the highly anticipated Netflix blockbuster series ‘Solo Leveling.’ Meanwhile, Hyeri is preparing for the release of the new ENA drama ‘A Dream for You’ and will also host the Disney+ variety show ‘Style Wars.’ The article concludes by asking: shouldn’t we be focusing on their exciting new ventures instead of a private life controversy from two years ago?
