K-celebs who are paired up on the virtual reality show "We Got Married" rarely go on to date in real life. Some don't even stay in touch. But for a few stars, working together may blossom into a friendship.
That may be the case with actress Gong Seung Hyun and actor and CNBLUE singer Lee Jong Hyun.
Gong recently played Go Ah Sung's sister in the drama "Heard It Through The Grapevine. In that drama, she played an ambitious young woman from a poor background that aspired to work in television. She dated a young lawyer.
She seemed far more innocent when she co-starred with Lee on the virtual marriage show.
In an interview with the Korean media outlet Newsen, she said that appearing on the program with Lee helped her feel more comfortable about being in a romantic relationship on TV and in real life.
"Lee Jong Hyun has helped me so much, so I've been able to really do it naturally," she said. "Over the time we've been together, he's said a lot of sweet romantic things to me and I've gradually come to naturally say them too."
Working with him has made filming seem so enjoyable.
"What woman wouldn't be happy to be treated so well?"
And their virtual relationship helped her make her drama relationships more believable.
"Even when I was working with my partner Kim Kwon on 'Heard It Through The Grapevine,' I'd sometimes think, 'Oh yes, it felt like this.' It's helped a lot."
Gong and Lee keep in touch outside of the program. She says they have become close friends.
"Since we're a married couple, isn't it normal for us to keep in touch with each other? Honestly, it would be weird if we weren't keeping in contact at all while we are on the show together?"
But that does not necessarily happen to all the celebrities who appear on the show. Gong said that she and Lee talk about books and music. When the Newsen interviewer asked her if she was dating anyone, she said she was not. She did date someone two years ago but that relationship ended. She is taking her "We Got Married" role seriously.
"I'm married now," she said. "Who is a married woman going to date?"
Before "Heard It Through The Grapevine," Gong Seung Yeon appeared in "My Lovely Girl." In 2015 she can be seen in "Call Me Baby" and "Six Flying Dragons."
Lee Jong Hyun currently appears in the vampire drama "Orange Marmalade." He also had a role in "Gentleman's Dignity" and a cameo in the web drama "One Sunny Day."
