Ko So Young on evolving relationship with Lee Jung-jae: "We use honorifics now"

Actress Ko So Young has candidly revealed the changing nature of her long-standing relationship with actor Lee Jung-jae. She explained that while they were once close friends who spoke casually to one another, their relationship has naturally evolved into one defined by mutual respect over time.

During a video uploaded to her YouTube channel on the 14th, Ko discussed her relationship with Lee while conversing with her production team about celebrity connections and casting her first guest.

During the filming, the production team suggested Lee as a candidate for her first guest, asking, “You have so many connections; shouldn't you utilize your golden network?” When asked if she had lost touch with him, Ko replied, “I don't exactly reach out to him right away anymore.”

She continued, “When we were younger, we were all friends. We were at a stage where we would call each other 'Hey,' but hasn't everyone grown older now? Now, we interact using honorifics.”

However, she emphasized that this does not imply a growing distance between them. “Rather than strictly formal honorifics, it is a friendly way of speaking,” Ko said. “There is also the world of adults. It feels very good; it feels like we are respecting one another.”

Ko and Lee, both considered iconic stars of the entertainment industry, are known to have maintained a special friendship for decades. The two became close while working as actors since the 1990s and have supported each other through major career milestones.

In particular, when Lee's directorial debut film 'Hunt' was released in 2022, Ko demonstrated her enduring friendship by posting on her SNS, “Congratulations on your directorial debut. My precious friend, I am always rooting for you.”

Her remarks illustrate how the dynamics of a relationship can shift even among lifelong friends. Rather than the informal intimacy of their youth, Ko's description of a relationship that acknowledges their respective positions and the passage of time offers a glimpse into the mature connections shared by industry veterans.

Ko married actor Jang Dong Gun in 2010 and has one son and one daughter. Recently, she has been communicating with the public through various platforms, including YouTube.