Kdrama actors are rarely allowed to date in peace. Whether they are stalked by relentless paparazzi or harassed by saesang fans, actors can find it harder to date than ordinary people. It's no fun trying to grow a relationship with so much public attention.
Star couples seem to have an easier time of it if they admit they are dating. Two cases illustrate the pressure public interest can have on a relationship. The first is the case of Won Bin and Lee Na Young who wanted to date quietly without making a public statement. But they couldn't. Paparazzi camped out in front of the actress' house and took photos of Won Bin coming and going. As a result, the whole world learned they had a relationship before his mother did. Now that they've gone public, interest seems to have died down. The fact that they attended a wedding together this week was only briefly news.
The second case concerned Kim Myung Soo, a.k.a. Infinite's L, and aspiring actress Kim Do Yeon. L, who played the young So Ji Sub in "The Master's Sun," was seen shopping for groceries with Kim Do Yeon but the two denied they were dating. One reason they did so was pressure from his agency, Woollim Entertainment. The agency issued a statement saying that the two were merely friends and encouraged her to say the same.
"His agency asked me to stay quiet for Myung Soo's sake, so I kept silent," she said. "I thought that was best for him and that I would be able to do it."
But some of his fans did not believe them, citing couple clothes and couple rings that the two wore. They began harassing Kim Do Yeon, throwing rocks at her and scratching up her car. The fans dumped trash in front of her office and visited her family business, buying up large quantities of merchandise and then returning it.
Kim felt she could no longer keep silent when the fans' actions made both her parents sick.
Woollim finally admitted the two were dating.
"We would like to sincerely apologize about this," said a Woollim representative. "When the rumors started in September, Infinite was in their world tour and the two had no chance to see each other. We would like it if L, his girlfriend, and his fans are no longer hurt by this issue."
In a way kdrama stars can't seem to win. They are criticized for dating and hounded if they try to deny they are. Stars who admit to dating seem to have an easier time of it, but it seems like both reporters and fans could be more respectful of the private lives of the people they claim to admire.
