Ha Hee-ra, "Rumors spread that Choi Soo-jong does events because he feels sorry after hitting me"

Actress Ha Hee-ra revealed the absurd rumors she experienced while maintaining a 33-year marriage with her husband, Choi Soo-jong. Although the two are called a representative "lovebird couple" in the entertainment industry, she stated that excessive public interest sometimes led to distorted imaginations and speculation. She even surprised people by revealing that rumors circulated claiming Choi Soo-jong performs events because he feels sorry after hitting his wife. Even for a couple who receives all the envy of the world, stories and perspectives created by others acted as a burden.

On the 11th, the tvN entertainment program ‘You Quiz on the Block’ released a preview video titled ‘33-year lovebird couple Choi Soo-jong ♥ Ha Hee-ra, what are the rumors and truths surrounding the two?’. In the video, Ha Hee-ra conversed with MC Yoo Jae-suk, honestly sharing the pressure of living as a representative lovebird couple for a long time and the anecdotes she has experienced.

When Yoo Jae-suk asked for her thoughts on their image as a lovebird couple, Ha Hee-ra replied, “Since it is not a bad image, I am grateful.” She added that while it is thankful that the public views their affection positively, due to the nature of their profession, there are many cases where their sincerity is interpreted differently from their intentions. She explained that unexpected misunderstandings occurred as the image shown to the public was accepted as if it were the entirety of their actual relationship.

The most absurd case was the rumor related to violence surrounding Choi Soo-jong. Ha Hee-ra revealed that she heard from people around her that rumors were circulating that Choi Soo-jong drinks, hits his wife, and then does an event because he feels sorry. Choi Soo-jong's image, famous for his expressions of affection and surprise events for his wife, combined with the exact opposite story, resulting in a distorted rumor. Ha Hee-ra's statement does not mean that the content is true, but rather that she is sharing the experience that such absurd rumors were distributed around the couple.

Even their everyday actions were not free from people's interpretations. Ha Hee-ra recalled that during their honeymoon period, if she walked holding hands with Choi Soo-jong, she heard people say, “They even hold hands outside,” and conversely, if they walked apart, she was asked, “Did you fight?” Whether they walked together or walked with distance, different meanings were assigned to each. As the couple's private actions were interpreted to fit public expectations, the parties involved were placed in an awkward situation regarding what attitude they should show.

This experience shows the double-edged nature of the image of a lovebird couple. The modifier of being a couple loved by the public brings positive interest and support, but at the same time, it becomes a standard that constantly demands behavior fitting that image. Even the simple act of walking while holding hands is consumed as something special, and if they show different sides, suspicions follow as to whether there is a problem in their relationship. The ideal image of a couple that people expect comes before the actual emotions and life of the couple.

Ha Hee-ra revealed that she eventually decided to focus on their truth rather than responding to every single gaze of others. She said, “In the end, I concluded that it is right to go our way according to our truth without caring about the eyes of others.” She added, “Since people who want to see things a certain way will see them that way anyway, we have walked in our own way, and it has already been 33 years.” This means they chose to protect the way of the relationship they believe in rather than trying to change the evaluations of others.

A celebrity's married life is a familiar topic to the public, but as interest grows, the gaze of speculation and verification surrounding their private lives also intensifies. Especially in cases like Choi Soo-jong and Ha Hee-ra, who have been noted for their expressions of affection and marital love for a long time, even a small action is easily interpreted in connection with their image. However, an actual relationship cannot be judged by just a few scenes captured in broadcasts or photos. The image of an ideal couple can also sometimes be a difficult-to-explain burden to the parties involved.

The reason why the story of Choi Soo-jong and Ha Hee-ra, who have lived as a married couple for 33 years, catches the eye is not simply because of their unchanging affection. It is because their attitude of not leaving their relationship to the evaluations of others, even amidst the expectations and speculation of those around them, is revealed. While the rumors surrounding the two still attract interest, Ha Hee-ra's confession makes one rethink the fact that the truth of a couple lies not in the modifiers or rumors attached from the outside, but in the time the parties themselves have built together.

Read the original (Korean)