Jang Dong-gun speaks on relationship with Ko So-young

Top Korean movie star Jang Dong-gun, who took the country by surprise yesterday after revealing he has been dating actress Ko So-young, wrote a message to fans early on Friday to talk about their relationship.

"You may have been surprised by the news...... As you all know, I have been friends with So-young for a long time and have appeared in a movie together," Jang started by saying in a posting on the website of his official fan club Adonis.

"We became extremely close at one point and I came to like her," Jang said, expressing his affection for the starlet. "We would always worry and root on for each other during hard times."

He ended his message by apologizing to his fans for not having told them about the news first and asked for support for their relationship. "You will be the first to know if I have any good news," he promised.

Sources close to the actors have said the two, both 37-years-old, have been dating for two years now and may get married as soon as next month, but Jang's agency AM Entertainment dismissed the rumors.

Over several occasions, the two were speculated to be in a relationship since appearing together in 1999 film "Love Wind, Love Song" but both movie stars had denied such reports everytime.

Jang, one of Korea's top actors since his debut in 1993, has won several critical acclaims for his roles in hit films including "Friend" and "Taegukgi", the third most-watched Korean film in box office history. He recently starred in box office topper "Good Morning President", the opening film for the Pusan International Film Festival last month.

Ko, who debuted in the same year as Jang, has appeared in over a dozen films including 1997 film "Beat" which gained her stardom after appearing alongside co-star Jung Woo-sung.

Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr