Celebrity Romance Heats Up

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

When celebrities start dating or fall in love, they usually take pains to hide their relationships from the public eye. It's hard enough having a relationship, but it's even harder when the media is following your every move.

With rumors abound on the Internet, celebrities are using their personal homepages to directly address the facts and announce their romantic relationships.

Actress Kim Jeong-eun and actor Lee Seo-jin are the latest star couple to go public with their romance by posting messages on their individual homepages.

In a message posted on her homepage last Sunday, Kim said she is now "standing in the middle of happiness" and described Lee as her best friend. She also said she was hurt by the various rumors surrounding their relationship. In the past few months, the couple have been spotted going on dates, but they kept mum on their relationship.

Lee, in his homepage, said he feels that Kim is "a part of his life". The couple met on the set of last year's SBS drama "Lovers", where Kim plays a plastic surgeon who falls in love with a gangster played by Lee. Lee had been rumored to be dating singer Lee Hyo-lee.

While in the past celebrities would directly talk to the press or hold press conferences to address rumors, celebrities are now using their homepages to directly answer such hearsay. Celebrities use a friendly tone in their messages, which are often addressed to their fans.

When rumors circulated about actor Hyeon Bin and actress Hwang Ji-hyeon last February, Hyeon Bin also used his homepage to address the matter. In his message, Hyeon Bin said he was upset at the rumors, but hoped it would not affect their feelings for one another.

Hyeon Bin starred in the popular drama "My Lovely Samsoon" ("My Name is Kim Sam-soon") in 2005 and recently, in "The Snow Queen". Hwang is seen in various commercials and had a supporting role in the drama "Come Back, Soon Ae".

However, celebrities are careful about making outright declarations of love in their messages, especially since not all romances have a happy ending.

High-profile couple actor Jo Seung-woo and actress Kang Hye-jeong split up last February after a three-year relationship. Jo and Kang were one of the few celebrity couples who often appeared in public, even starring as lovers in the film "Love Phobia" (Tomabaem) last year.