Korean pop idol Kim Hyun-joong of SS501 recently attended former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan's 80th birthday party, according to his agency DSP Media on Tuesday.

"Before attending a birthday party for [DSP agency CEO] Mr. Lee Ho-yeon, Kim stopped by the reception for former president Chun Doo-hwan with Mr. Lee," an official at DSP Media was quoted as saying.

The official explained that Kim was scheduled to attend Lee's dinner party with his bandmates but when Lee received a call from Chun's party, the two briefly dropped by the event together. The agency stressed that "it had just happened" and asked that "there be no misunderstandings."

Kim, 23, is the leader of boy band SS501, one of the most successful K-pop acts in Asia since their debut in 2005. The singer has also done some acting work, most notably in the smash hit drama "Boys Over Flowers" last year alongside actors Lee Min-ho and Koo Hye-sun.

Reporter : Lim Hye-seon lhsro@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr