File picture[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@]
Son Hye-kyo, the actress who is gaining popularity for her role in South Korea's hit drama "Descendants of the Sun", denied rumors about dating her drama partner Song Joong-ki through her agency on Monday.
Dating rumors have spread rapidly after an unconfirmed online post claimed the Song couple were seen shopping together in New York. Their agencies said Song Hye-kyo, 34, was on vacation in New York and Song Joong-ki, 30, was there coincidentally.
"There is no reason to take it seriously," Song Hye-ko's agency, UAA Korea said, describing the Song couple as just "good colleagues" who had done a TV series together.
The agency, however, vowed to take legal steps about malicious rumors that Song Hye-kyo has a business "sponsor". It has already asked police to investigate Internet users suspected of spreading groundless rumors about her.
The statement came as South Korea's entertainment community was hit by a fresh sex scandal that prompted some actresses to deny and threaten legal action against rumor-mongers.
A 2013 investigation into a celebrity prostitution ring sparked rumors about dozens of people who allegedly had clandestine relations with deep-pocketed or influential sponsors. Some stated their innocence or took legal action to stop the rumors from spreading.
The investigation followed the suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon who killed herself at her home, leaving a letter in which she heaped shame on "slave contracts" in the country's entertainment industry with allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation.
The popularity of South Korean actor Song Joong-ki became phenomenal in China as he topped the list of the most popular celebrities in a Chinese survey, overtaking Lee Min-ho's place.
"Descendants of the Sun" is a 16-episode long drama telling a love story between an army captain and a female doctor, who are on a mission together in a fictional war-torn country called Uruk to save lives. Unlike other Korean dramas, it was pre-produced.
The drama is Song Joong-ki's first TV work since he completed his military duty last year. It has been enjoying explosive popularity since the drama premiered on February 24 simultaneously in South Korea and China.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
