Korean online communities have recently been buzzing after a series of surprising old photos showing Son Ye Jin affectionately clinging to another man resurfaced across multiple forums.
The images quickly sparked curiosity and confusion among netizens, with many wondering about the true relationship between the actress and the mysterious man appearing beside her.
On the morning of May 14, reporters from Korean outlet MyDaily reportedly investigated the photos and revealed that they were actually taken more than 25 years ago when Son Ye Jin was still a teenager.
The man in the photos turned out to be singer-songwriter Joo Young Hoon. The pictures were captured during Son Ye Jin’s appearance on KBS’s Star Date, a television program that aired decades ago. At the time, the actress had openly revealed that Joo Young Hoon was her ideal type and celebrity crush during her teenage years.
According to reports, Son Ye Jin enthusiastically participated in several challenges during the show and eventually won first place, earning the opportunity to personally meet and spend time with her idol.
The moment she finally met Joo Young Hoon in person, the actress reportedly became overwhelmed with excitement. She openly expressed her joy through bold and energetic reactions, including jumping onto him, throwing herself into his arms, and tightly hugging him.
The memorable interaction did not end there. Joo Young Hoon was also seen kindly feeding Son Ye Jin cake while the actress smiled brightly, looking exactly like an excited teenage girl spending time with the celebrity she admired most.
As the photos continued spreading online, netizens began flooding comment sections with nostalgic and humorous reactions.
Some comments included:
- “Son Ye Jin’s beauty really hasn’t changed at all.”
- “I never imagined Joo Young Hoon used to be her ideal type.”
- “If Hyun Bin sees these photos, he’ll definitely get jealous.”
- “These are probably the photos Son Ye Jin wants to hide forever.”
Born on January 11, 1982, Son Ye Jin whose real name is Son Eon Jin — is widely considered one of South Korea’s top actresses. Often called the “Nation’s First Love” and praised as one of Korea’s greatest beauty icons, she became famous for both her elegant visuals and versatile acting skills.
She began her acting career in 2000 with a small role in Secret Tears before rapidly rising to fame through romantic classics such as The Classic, Summer Scent, A Moment to Remember, April Snow, and Crash Landing on You.
Throughout her career, Son Ye Jin has appeared in more than 20 films and dramas, earning praise for her emotional acting range, from innocent romantic heroines to psychologically complex characters. She consistently ranked on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list between 2019 and 2022, further proving her massive influence within the Korean entertainment industry.
Son Ye Jin married fellow actor Hyun Bin on March 31, 2022, in Seoul after publicly dating for one year. Their romance famously blossomed after starring together in Crash Landing on You, and the couple is now widely regarded as one of Korean entertainment’s most beloved power couples thanks to their overwhelming chemistry both onscreen and in real life.
