Meeting on the set of a kdrama unfortunately does not guarantee that a couple will live happily ever after. While being a kdrama actor can make it easier to meet other attractive celebrities, the intense filming schedules such actors face make it difficult to maintain a relationship.
That's the reason given for the recent breakup of actor Kim Joo Hyuk and actress Kim Kyu Ri. The couple met last year when they played lovers in the MBC 2012 historical series "God of War." In the drama Kim Joo Hyuk played Kim Joon, a slave who becomes a respected citizen. Kim Kyu Ri played Song Yi, who loves Kim Joon but cannot marry him. Even though their characters could not make a success of their drama relationship, the two actors became good friends and decided to date. They went public with their relationship after dating for about three months. But despite their devotion to each other, they could not make their relationship work.
Kim Joo Hyuk's management agency, Namoo Entertainment, recently released a statement about the breakup.
"Kim Joo Hyuk and Kim Kyu Ri have gone their separate ways," said the statement. "The main reason for the split up was their busy schedules. Kim Joo Hyuk is currently filming the MBC daily drama 'Guam Heo Jun,' while Kim Kyu Ri is busy with her own filming schedule for the MBC drama 'Scandal.' Their relationship has ended but they will continue to support each other's efforts."
"Guam Heo Jun" tells the story of real-life historical figure Heo Jun, who wrote the medical textbook "Donguibogam" and became royal physician in the court of King Seonjo. Kim Joo Hyuk plays Heo Jun.
"Scandal" relates the story of a detective who finds out he was kidnapped as a child. Kim Kyu Ri plays Jang Joo Ha. The drama also stars Kim Jae Won and Jo Yoon Hee.
Kim Joo Hyuk and Kim Kyu Ri were at one point so close they considered marriage, so the break-up cannot have been easy.
"They are currently immersing themselves in their work to overcome this difficult time," said an agency representative. "The people who supported their relationship are also very sad."
Other kdrama couples who met on set, dated and broke up include Lee Min Ho and Park Min Young of "City Hunter," Lee Sang Yoon and Nam Sang Mi of "Life Is Beautiful" and Song Hye Kyo and Hyun Bin of "Worlds Within." Song Hye Kyo and Hyun Bin also cited busy schedules as the reason for their breakup.
