Rarely do K-pop idols unveil their romantic relationships, adding excitement to the occasions when they do. If you’re intrigued by the love lives of K-pop stars, get ready to discover the official K-pop couples of 2023 who have set tongues wagging.
At the top of the buzzworthy list is the enchanting duo of IU and Lee Jong-suk. IU, a highly acclaimed solo artist in the world of K-pop, joins forces with Lee Jong-suk, a beloved actor in the realm of K-dramas. Their combined fame and charisma have propelled them to become Korea’s freshest and most sought-after power couple. Another pair that has garnered significant attention is the sensational KR&B singer Crush and the captivating member of Red Velvet, Joy.
1. IU & Lee Jong-suk
Dispatch, a Korean entertainment media outlet famous for covering breaking news and gossip, surprised K-pop fans worldwide on December 31, 2022, with the news of IU and Lee Jong-suk’s relationship. The outlet even shared photos of the couple at an airport, claiming that they had spent Christmas together in Nagoya, Japan, and were heading back home. According to the article, they had been dating for four months.
Shortly after, Lee Jong-suk’s agency, HighZium Studio, released an official statement confirming their relationship. The statement mentioned that their friendship had recently evolved into a serious romantic relationship. IU’s label, EDAM Entertainment, also confirmed the dating rumors, validating their authenticity.
IU is undeniably one of the biggest names in K-pop. As a singer-songwriter who has been in the game since 2008, she has won numerous awards and consistently topped domestic music charts. Alongside her successful music career, she has also made a mark as an accomplished actress, starring in popular K-dramas such as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, My Mister, and Hotel Del Luna.
On the other hand, Lee Jong-suk is widely regarded as one of the most sought-after actors in the K-drama industry. Known for his captivating performances in leading roles, he has garnered immense popularity through dramas like I Can Hear Your Voice, Pinocchio, and While You Were Sleeping.
2. Sooyoung (Girls’ Generation) & Jung Kyung-ho
In the Korean entertainment industry, there’s a long-standing couple that’s still going strong in 2023. Sooyoung, a member of Girls’ Generation, and actor Jung Kyung-ho have been dating since 2012. They initially denied their dating rumors twice in 2013 before officially confirming their relationship in 2014.
Recently, in December 2022, Jung Kyung-ho shared in an interview that they support each other’s work. Sooyoung even came to cheer him on at the VIP premiere of his film Men of Plastic. However, he mentioned that they currently have no plans for marriage and believe that they should tie the knot when the time is right.
Sooyoung made her debut in 2007 as part of the renowned girl group Girls’ Generation. Besides her singing career, she has also ventured into acting, starring in K-dramas like So I Married the Anti-fan and films like New Year Blues. On the other hand, Jung Kyung-ho is a successful actor known for his roles in popular series such as Prison Playbook, Hospital Playlist, and Crash Course in Romance.
3. Hyeri (Girl’s Day) & Ryu Jun-yeol
In 2016, Hyeri from Girls’ Day and actor Ryu Jun-yeol met while working together on the K-drama Reply 1988. They portrayed each other’s love interests on the show and started dating in real life that same year. The news of their relationship was confirmed by their respective labels in 2017 after it was reported by Dispatch.
It seems that the couple is still going strong even after more than 6 years. Recently, on September 24, 2022, the director of Ryu Jun-yeol’s drama Money Game shared on Instagram that Hyeri visited her boyfriend on-set and even sent a coffee truck to show support for the entire cast and crew.
Hyeri made her debut in 2010 as the youngest member of the girl group Girls’ Day. However, she has achieved great success as an actress, appearing in popular dramas such as My Roommate Is a Gumiho and Moonshine. On the other hand, Ryu Jun-yeol has made a name for himself with his roles in acclaimed films like The King, A Taxi Driver, and Little Forest.
4. Joy (Red Velvet) & Crush
It’s not every day that a member of a popular girl group goes public with their relationship. So, when Red Velvet’s Joy and R&B singer Crush confirmed that their dating rumors were true, it definitely caused a stir in the Korean music industry.
On August 23, 2021, a report from South Korean news outlet Sports Chosun stated that Joy and Crush were dating. Shortly after, both Joy and Crush confirmed their relationship and shared letters with their fans online. It turns out that the couple had previously collaborated on Crush’s single “Mayday” in 2020 and stayed in touch afterwards. According to their respective labels, P-Nation and SM Entertainment, they started off as seniors and juniors in the industry before their relationship took a romantic turn. And it seems that more than a year later, their love is still going strong.
Joy, a member of Red Velvet, is a prominent figure in the K-pop world. She has also made appearances in K-dramas like Tempted and The One and Only. As for Crush, he is a popular singer in the Korean R&B and hip-hop scene, with a successful career since his debut in 2014. His singles have consistently ranked in the top five of the Gaon Digital Chart.
5. Jisoo (BLACKPINK) & Ahn Bo-hyun
It’s not the first time that there have been rumors about a BLACKPINK member being in a relationship, but this time YG Entertainment has actually confirmed it. Ahn Bo-hyun’s agency, FN Entertainment, also released a statement confirming that the two are indeed in a relationship and are getting to know each other with good feelings. The rumors started after they were spotted together in Seoul, and people started questioning their relationship.
Jisoo has been the lead vocalist of the incredible girl group, BLACKPINK, since their debut in 2016. Recently, she made her solo acting debut in 2021 with her role in Snowdrop as Eun Yeongro. On the other hand, Ahn Bo-hyun is a well-known actor in South Korea, and he made his debut in 2014. He has had some remarkable roles, including Jang Geun-won in Itaewon Class and Moon Seo-ha in See You in My 19th Life.
6. Ryeowook (Super Junior) & Ari
On September 29, 2020, SpoTVNews broke the news that Super Junior’s Ryeowook and former TAHITI member Ari were in a relationship. Ryeowook’s agency, Label SJ, later confirmed the reports. Label SJ described them as “close seniors and juniors” who gradually grew closer and eventually became romantically involved.
Ryeowook is a member of the popular 2nd generation K-pop boy group Super Junior. Although he debuted back in 2006, it wasn’t until 2016 that he released his first solo album, titled The Little Prince. Ari, on the other hand, is a singer and actress who made her debut as part of the girl group TAHITI in 2012. Unfortunately, the group disbanded in 2018 after six years together.
7. Jennie (BLACKPINK) & V (BTS)
The news of Jennie from BLACKPINK and V from BTS dating might not be surprising to most fans, as rumors about their relationship have been circulating since May 2022. Leaked pictures and videos of the two together have been popping up for months. While neither agency has officially confirmed their relationship, they have also never denied it. In 2023, more evidence emerged that strongly supports their status as a couple.
In May 2023, a French journalist named Amar Taoualit captured footage of the two idols walking hand-in-hand through the streets of Paris. Though their faces weren’t clearly visible in the video, fans compared the outfits seen in the footage with other sightings of the celebrities that day and concluded that it was indeed them. Following this, both companies released statements stating that they have no knowledge of their idols’ dating lives, once again leaving fans to speculate.