Lee Dong-gun’s Dating History: 5 Relationships Including His Most Scandalous Romance After Jiyeon

Navigating romantic relationships in the entertainment realm can be quite complex. Nevertheless, Lee Dong Gun openly shared details about his dating life five times, yet none of these relationships led to lasting happiness. Furthermore, his public persona has been somewhat tarnished following a series of breakups.

Kim Min Jung

The first significant relationship of Lee Dong Gun was with Kim Min Jung, which began in May 2002 after their collaboration on an MBC project. At that time, both were emerging actors, resulting in their relationship not attracting widespread attention. Unfortunately, their romance came to an end after approximately 18 months due to their differing temperaments.

Han Ji Hye

In the 2000s, the relationship between Lee Dong Gun and Han Ji Hye was a major talking point. They first met on the set of “Sweet 18” and eventually dated. The couple often expressed their feelings for one another during public appearances. They later collaborated again in the drama “My Boyfriend is Type B.”

By January 2008, Han Ji Hye had removed all photos of Lee Dong Gun from her personal social media and announced their split. While the specific reasons were not disclosed, it was speculated that their demanding schedules hindered their relationship. Fortunately, they maintained a friendship, with Han Ji Hye being one of the first to express her condolences at Lee Dong Gun’s brother’s funeral.

Lee Dong Gun and Han Ji Hye — The couple displayed affection during public events

Cha Ye Ryun

In 2008, Lee Dong Gun began a relationship with Cha Ye Ryun, who is five years his junior. The two were close friends within the same circle for several years before their romantic involvement blossomed during filming for “Star’s Lovers.”Ye Ryun provided support to him during his brother’s passing, strengthening their bond.

Spotted frequently at cafes and restaurants, Dong Gun and Ye Ryun made several attempts to overcome their incompatibilities over their two-year relationship. However, in 2010, with Dong Gun’s military enlistment, their relationship ended.

T-ARA’s Jiyeon

In July 2015, Lee Dong Gun’s romance with T-ARA’s Jiyeon took off after a paparazzi snapshot unveiled their dining together. Their connection deepened after collaborating on the drama “Encounter.”

However, unlike his previous relationships, the public reacted harshly to his romance with Jiyeon. They criticized her idol background and referenced the T-ARA bullying scandal, while also disparaging Lee Dong Gun for dating someone significantly younger.

Jiyeon cried on livestream after nonstop attack about her relationship with Lee Dong Gun — Jiyeon broke down during a livestream due to incessant harassment over her relationship with Lee Dong Gun

Feeling the weight of constant cyberbullying, Jiyeon openly expressed her distress during a livestream. Lee Dong Gun defended their relationship, dismissing concerns surrounding their age difference and calling himself “immature”while relying on her for support. Their bond ended in 2017, largely due to conflicting schedules.

In December 2022, Jiyeon married baseball player Hwang Jae Gyun. Sadly, in 2024, Jiyeon made headlines again as she revealed the couple had filed for divorce after two years of marriage. According to her legal team, the decision was mutual, following an unsuccessful effort to reconcile their differences, and they began the legal process with the Seoul Family Court.

Jo Yoon Hee

A mere 26 days following his breakup with Jiyeon, Lee Dong Gun’s relationship with Jo Yoon Hee – his co-star in “The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop” – surfaced. Just three months later, they announced their engagement, revealing that the actress was already two months pregnant. This led to public backlash, with accusations of infidelity aimed at Lee Dong Gun and claims that Jo Yoon Hee was the other woman.

Despite immense scrutiny, the couple welcomed their first child in December 2017. However, three years later, Lee Dong Gun and Jo Yoon Hee divorced, with him admitting to multiple shortcomings, such as forgetting anniversaries and failing to make her feel valued.

After their divorce, Lee Dong Gun lost custody of their daughter, but Jo Yoon Hee agreed to co-parent. Following a three-year hiatus from the industry, he made his return in the drama “Celebrity.” He explained his break, citing the importance of being present for his daughter during her formative years, and while he couldn’t always be there, he wanted to minimize her feelings of loneliness.

Source: KB

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