In South Korea’s celebrity world, where romantic relationships are often kept secret or short-lived under intense public scrutiny, Jung Kyung-ho and Choi Soo-young stood out as an exception.
After 14 years together, one of the country’s most enduring celebrity couples has decided to end their relationship.
Jung’s agency, Management OREUM, confirmed that the couple had recently separated. Choi’s agency, Saram Entertainment, said the two had chosen to remain on good terms as colleagues.
The pair first met at a church gathering in 2012 before eventually developing a romantic relationship. They also shared another connection through Chung-Ang University’s Department of Theater and Film, where they studied as senior and junior classmates.
Their relationship became public in 2014 when they acknowledged reports that they were dating. Over the following decade, they earned a reputation as one of South Korea’s most stable celebrity couples, openly expressing support and affection for one another in interviews and public appearances.
In an entertainment industry often defined by carefully managed public images and relentless media attention, the couple’s willingness to maintain a long-term public relationship resonated with fans. Their romance came to symbolize a rare sense of normalcy and commitment in South Korea’s celebrity culture.
Jung, 43, debuted in 2003 as part of KBS’s 20th class of television talent recruits and is currently filming the ENA drama Fascinating Romance.
Choi, 36, rose to fame as a member of K-pop group Girls’ Generation before building a successful acting career of her own. She is set to appear in the upcoming KBS2 weekend drama School Is Back.
Neither agency provided details regarding the reason behind the breakup.
While celebrity relationships frequently make headlines in South Korea, few have lasted as long—or seemed as enduring—as that of Jung and Choi. Their separation marks the end of a relationship that had quietly defied the conventions of the country’s entertainment industry for more than a decade.
