According to SportsV News on June 1, Lee Dong-gun has openly introduced Kang Hae-rim as his “girlfriend” to acquaintances, not hiding their relationship. It’s reported that he expressed his happiness, responding to congratulations with comments like “Thank you” and “I’m happy.”
The couple was allegedly spotted multiple times enjoying dates in Seoul’s Gangnam area. Dressed casually, they appeared comfortable, unbothered by public attention, walking affectionately and spending leisurely time at cafes.
The dating rumors have garnered significant attention due to Lee Dong-gun’s past. He has had five publicized relationships before meeting Kang Hae-rim and, after his divorce, had expressed his intention to refrain from dating for the sake of his young daughter. On the November 17, 2024, episode of SBS’s My Little Old Boy, Lee Dong-gun’s father shared, “He always goes public when he’s dating. I told him, ‘You’re a celebrity; why make it public? Keep it private.’ But he says going public is a way to respect his partner.” He added, “That’s how he got the nickname ‘King of Chairs.’ He protests, saying he’s just being honest, not a ‘King of Chairs.’”
Lee Dong-gun himself addressed the “King of Chairs” nickname and his feelings about his daughter on the November 5, 2023, episode of My Little Old Boy. When asked by the production team if he was seeing anyone, he responded, “I’ve completely given up on dating. I know people look at me with prejudice. My nickname is ‘King of Chairs’ in the entertainment industry.”
He explained, “YouTube videos always tag me at the end of other people’s scandals. At first, I was so angry, thinking, ‘Why are they portraying me like this?’ I know there’s a negative perception, so I thought, ‘Dating isn’t for me.’” He added, “In a year, Roa (his daughter) will have a phone and might search for my name. Thinking about that makes me feel sorry even now. I’d be embarrassed and apologetic if she saw such things.” When the production team asked, “So no more public relationships?” he laughed, saying, “I hope not. No dating or public relationships.”
On the July 21, 2023, episode of My Little Old Boy, Lee Dong-gun reiterated his resolve to avoid dating, stating, “My daughter is young. She’s at an age where she can’t fully grasp the reality of her parents’ divorce. If I were to date someone at this time, I think it would be something I shouldn’t do to her.”
With this “sixth public relationship” now implicitly underway, Lee Dong-gun continues to carry the “King of Chairs” image. Born in 1980, Lee Dong-gun married actress Jo Yoon-hee in 2017, welcoming a daughter in December of the same year, but they divorced three years later in May 2020. Jo Yoon-hee is raising their daughter, and Lee Dong-gun makes an effort to see her weekly, fulfilling his responsibilities as a father. After his divorce, Lee Dong-gun returned to acting with the 2023 Netflix drama Celebrity and appeared in the January 2025 short-form drama Useless Love. Recently, he opened a café in Jeju, transitioning into a business venture.
Kang Hae-rim, born in 1996, debuted in 2017 with the web drama Idol Fever. She gained recognition through reenactment roles on KBS Joy’s Love Naggers Season 2 and 3 and rose to prominence after beating 600:1 odds to land a lead role in Netflix’s 2022 series Somebody. She also starred as Jin Pro in the April 2025 film Lobby, directed by Ha Jung-woo.
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