Do Entertainment Agencies Encourage Secret Dating?

Plenty of k-drama actors have dated secretly until they either chose to make a public declaration of their feelings or their relationship was exposed by the paparazzi, as was the case with Yoona and Lee Seung Gi.

Fans may fault celebrities for trying to hide a relationship. However, it may be the stars' entertainment agencies that insist the stars date in secret.

Lee Yeon Hee, the star of "Miss Korea, had something to say about the issue on a recent airing of the MBC talk show "Radio Star."

When asked if she had any complaints about her agency, SM Entertainment, she said she was not happy with their dating policy.

"They tell us that dating is allowed but that we shouldn't be discovered," said Lee Yeon Hee.

The actress suggested that this was what happened to Yoona and Lee Seung Gi. The couple was allowed to date as long as no one knew.

"I know that it's not what they wanted or how they wanted to date," she said.

Some entertainment agencies have a complete dating ban, especially on members of girl groups. Some agencies do not allow stars to date at all until a certain number of years after their debut or until they reach a certain age. Dara of the girl group 2NE1 finally had her dating ban lifted this year at the age of 28. Although stars complain, this does make a kind of financial sense since the agencies devote time and money on training stars. If they are discovered to be dating, it could affect their career, but it can also backfire.

When Infinite's L, who played the young So Ji Sub in "The Master's Sun, was dating last year, his agency asked his girlfriend to keep the relationship a secret. Fans found out anyway and threw trash and rocks at her. She defied the agency and went public with their relationship.

Stars are generally reluctant to discuss the dating bans or restrictions. When miss A's Suzy was interviewed about dating bans at her agency JYP Entertainment, she said she didn't know anything about them. But she has not dated anyone either. And if she did it might be in secret.

A dating declaration such as that made last year by "Goddess of Fire: Jeonji" co-stars Moon Geun Young and Kim Bum is still rare. Maybe you have to be a star of their caliber to get your agency to agree to let you date publicly.

It is also rumored that some agencies prefer that their stars date each other so it will be easier to control the publicity should their relationship go public.

In the coming year more stars may choose to be open about their relationships and more agencies may respect their wishes. Lee Yeon Hee thought it was a good thing that Lee Seung Gi and Yoona's relationship was revealed.

"I think the trend is changing," she said.