End of a 14-Year Romance: Inside Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung’s Final Decision to Become Good Colleagues

One of the South Korean entertainment industry’s most beloved and longest-running celebrity couples, actor Jung Kyung-ho and Girls’ Generation member Choi Soo-young, have officially ended their relationship after 14 years of dating. According to an exclusive media report published on June 9, 2026, the two stars recently drifted apart due to their increasingly packed work schedules and mutually decided to transition from romantic partners to supportive industry colleagues.

A Mutual Decision Fueled by Hectic Career Demands

The news of their separation was first sparked online by eagle-eyed fans who noticed that the two stars had recently unfollowed each other’s personal social media accounts. Shortly after the rumors began circulating on internet community boards, both of their respective management agencies stepped forward to formally confirm the breakup.

Choi Soo-young’s agency, Saram Entertainment, released a brief statement confirming the split:

“It is true that Choi Soo-young and Jung Kyung-ho have recently broken up. After a long period of careful thought, they have decided to bring an end to their romantic relationship and remain as good professional colleagues who cheer each other on.”

Jung Kyung-ho’s management agency, Management Allum, similarly acknowledged the separation but asked for the public’s understanding regarding specific details, stating that the exact timing and private reasons behind the split belong to the artists’ personal private lives.

According to close industry insiders, the separation happened very naturally. Jung Kyung-ho has been constantly moving from one major acting project to the next without a break, while Soo-young has been frequently traveling back and forth between South Korea and Japan for her own independent promotions. Due to these heavy professional commitments, they found it increasingly difficult to carve out time to meet, which eventually caused them to drift apart.

Looking Back at a 14-Year Legacy of Love

Jung Kyung-ho (43) and Choi Soo-young (36) initially crossed paths as alumni of Chung-Ang University’s Department of Theater and Film studies. After initially getting to know one another through a shared church gathering, their friendship quickly blossomed into romance, and they officially began dating in September 2012.

The couple publicly confirmed their relationship to the world in January 2014. Over the next decade, they earned immense respect and love from global fans for their stable, healthy relationship. They frequently mentioned each other with deep affection during live television broadcasts and interviews, and were often spotted by the public enjoying casual, supportive dates in downtown Seoul.

Following the end of their long romantic chapter, both stars plan to completely throw themselves back into their primary acting careers:

• Jung Kyung-ho: The actor, who debuted in 2003 and starred in massive hits like Hospital Playlist and Crash Course in Romance, is currently busy filming ENA’s brand-new romantic comedy series, An Alluring Romance.
• Choi Soo-young: The multi-talented performer, who debuted with Girls’ Generation in 2007 and led critically acclaimed dramas like Run On and Not Others, is currently preparing to begin filming for KBS 2TV’s highly anticipated weekend drama series, I Am Back at School, which is scheduled to air next year.