Lee Chang Hoon reveals truth behind Song Hye Kyo dating rumors

Actor Lee Chang Hoon has personally revealed the truth behind past dating rumors involving Song Hye Kyo, sharing his honest feelings about the scandals that followed him throughout his career.

Appearing on the MBN variety show 'While You Were Hurting' aired on the 26th, Lee reminisced about his past, noting how he naturally found himself at the center of dating rumors after working with numerous top stars since his debut.

Having worked with the era's greatest actresses, including Kim Hee-sun, Lee Young-ae, Ko So Young, and Shim Eun-ha, he drew particular attention when he mentioned the dating rumors with Song Hye Kyo, whom he appeared with in the SBS sitcom 'Soonpoong Clinic'.

"Hye Kyo was really young back then," Lee recalled. "There was a scene where the two of us were crying together, and we were practicing our emotions in the car before filming."

He explained, "Since Hye Kyo was actually crying, I was comforting her by her side. People who saw that scene misunderstood and thought, 'Aren't they dating?' which caused the rumors to spread."

A simple rehearsal scene had escalated into an unexpected scandal.

While smiling as he recalled the moment, he confessed, "After that incident, a saying even circulated among actresses and managers that 'you just have to be careful around Lee Chang Hoon.'"

He then caused a wave of laughter in the studio by stating, "I've filmed about 35 dramas, and 30 of them were melodramas. Because of that, I had about 30 dating rumors."

However, not all rumors were true.

Lee confessed honestly, "Out of those 30 dating rumors, only about two were real. When you work together on a project for a long time, there are cases where feelings naturally develop while listening to and comforting each other through difficult times."

As a long-time lead in melodrama series, where natural chemistry with on-screen lovers often led to real-life rumors, his story highlights how the boundary between professional work and private life was much more blurred during that era.

Lee's candid confession is drawing renewed interest, not only for the memories of his fellow actors but also for the behind-the-scenes stories of the many dating rumors that captivated the entertainment industry during the 1990s and 2000s.