Less than a day after a Korean media outlet reported that actors Park Seo Joon and Baek Jin Hee dated secretly for the last two years, their agencies quickly issued denials.
The couple first met when they co-starred in the 2013 MBC drama "Pots of Gold," also known as "I Summon You Gold." In that drama the 27-year-old actor and 25-year-old actress played a young married couple. The actors had so much onscreen chemistry that viewers hoped they would become a real-life couple. After the drama ended they kept in touch.
In July 2014, rumors began to surface that the actors were dating but both agencies quickly denied the rumors, saying that the actors were "just friends" and much too busy to date.
Both actors were very busy in 2014. Baek Jin Hee starred in three dramas, appearing as the evil empress Tanashiri in "Empress Ki," Kim Jaejoong's love interest in "Triangle" and a prosecutor on Choi Jin Hyuk's team in "Pride and Prejudice."
Park Seo Joon was also one of the year's breakout stars. After "Pots of Gold" he appeared in "One Warm Word," romanced Uhm Jung Hwa in "Witch's Romance" and appeared in "Mama." He will play Hwang Jung Eum's brother in the upcoming drama "Kill Me, Heal Me."
At the January 5th press conference for "Kill Me, Heal Me," the actor even addressed his relationship status by saying that he was so busy he did not have time to date anyone.
"It always stops at an ambiguous stage," said Park Seo Joon.
The latest round of rumors began to circulate because the couple was reportedly seen on social media sporting identical rings and wearing padded jackets from the same brand. Park Seo Joon also recently moved to Geumhodong, the Seoul neighborhood where Baek Jin Hee lives.
The agencies denied the reports saying once again that the actors were too busy to date and they discounted Park Seo Joon's move saying that many celebrities live in that neighborhood.
His agency, KeyEast, told Newsen that it was true that the couple grew closer when they appeared together in the drama and that they kept in touch as friends. But that's all.
"While they do occasionally meet for a cup of tea, that does not mean they are dating," said the KeyEast representative. "Due to being friends, they feel comfortable with each other also outside of work."
Her agency, Snow Boll Entertainment, also said that the couple was close but not dating.
