Rumors that actress Kim So Eun is dating professional soccer player Jung Dong Ho have been debunked by close friends and the actress herself, according to multiple sources.
Earlier reports claimed Kim So Eun and Jung Dong Ho, a player for Suwon FC in the K League 1, had been quietly dating for over a year.
However, an insider familiar with both parties told OSEN that the two are close friends, not romantic partners.
"It's true that Kim So Eun and Jung Dong Ho are very close, to the point where those around them are aware of their friendship.
However, they are not actually in a romantic relationship," said an acquaintance close to both.
Kim So Eun also denied the rumors in an interview with a separate media outlet, calling them "completely groundless."
An OSEN source close to Kim explained that because the two share overlapping social and golf circles, they often appeared together at gatherings, which may have led to misunderstandings about their relationship.
According to OSEN, tips about a possible romance began circulating last year.
Read more: Kim So Eun Will Address Her Dating Rumors On 'We Got Married'
Jung was seen holding hands with Kim at her birthday party, and claims surfaced that they had gone on dates during shared golf events.
Kim's agency responded by denying the rumors, noting that several male friends attended her birthday celebration and she interacted warmly with many of them.
"Several of Kim's male friends attended her birthday celebration, and she hugged and held hands with many of them throughout the day," the agency said.
Despite the denials, rumors intensified after what some called a "Lovestagram" post and claims that the two traveled abroad together.
A close acquaintance of Kim clarified that the overseas trip was for filming, and Jung was simply one of many guests at Kim's birthday party.
Kim So Eun made her acting debut in 2005 in the MBC drama Sisters of the Sea.
She is currently pursuing independent projects after leaving her former agency Ascendio last year.
Jung Dong Ho began his professional soccer career in 2009 with Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan's J1 League.
He has represented South Korea at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was selected for the senior national team in 2015. Since 2021, he has played for Suwon FC.
Read more: Kim So Eun Finally Breaks Her Silence on The Death of Her 'We Got Married' Husband Song Jae Rim
