While YoonA and Lee Junho's dating rumor stunned the public, it appears that there is a reason behind the bombshell news.
On July 3, media outlets were surprised to hear another dating news, and this time, the "King the Land" stars were involved. It was after a news portal claimed that YoonA and Lee Junho were in a relationship.
Adding fuel to the fire, the lead stars reportedly accepted the offer for the JTBC rom-com drama because of their relationship.
Lee Junho - YoonA Dating? Agencies Clarify Rumors
Shortly after the news broke, the duo's respective agencies responded to the issue.
As mentioned by a media outlet, YoonA's agency, SM Entertainment, mentioned that the actress and the 2PM member "are just close, and the dating rumors are not true."
The same went for Lee Junho's agency, JYP Entertainment, which expressed a similar stance and mentioned that upon checking with the singer-actor, they've found out that they are "close" friends, and that "the dating rumors are groundless."
Following the agencies' official statements, speculation rose that the dating rumor was a "dirty trick" from a competitor.
Was YoonA - Lee Junho Dating Rumor Caused By 'Rating Battle'?
As mentioned by a news portal, netizens suspected that YoonA and Lee Junho's dating rumor was an "act of spreading fake news for clout."
Some pointed out that even the notorious Dispatch and Sport Seoul failed to cover the dating news while a new media outlet, Proof News, which was established in March 2023, reported such a surprising update.
RELATED NEWS: Lee Junho & YoonA's Agencies Update on Rumored Couple's Status: 'The two are close...'
Moreover, people also mentioned that Proof News' biggest investor is a well-known broadcasting station and one of the competitors of cable networks like tvN or JTBC.
YoonA and Lee JunHo's "King the Land" is under JTBC.
To add to that, the rom-com series is currently gaining attention, and on top of that, the show's viewership ratings are on the rise.
After airing "King the Land" episode 6, the weekend K-drama garnered its first double-digit rating.
Moreover, the rom-com series, as well as its lead stars, dominated the latest rankings of the Most Buzzworthy Drama and Actor List as recorded by Good Data Corporation.
Another possible clue regarding the public's theory was that YoonA and Lee Junho's dating rumors were released after airing the show's episode, raising more suspicion that it could be due to the "rating battle" versus "King the Land."
Where to Watch 'King the Land'
Viewers can awatch "King the Land" in various platforms.
Airing every Saturday and Sunday, YoonA and Lee Junho's drama is also being broadcast through TVING and Netflix for global viewers.
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