Actors Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun at the press conference for tvN's "Queen of Tears" in Seoul, March 7. / Newsis

Actor Kim Soo-hyun has addressed dating rumors involving his "Queen of Tears" co-star Kim Ji-won, months after speculation began.

Messages Kim Soo-hyun exchanged with fans on the communication platform Bubble surfaced online Friday, as reported by Newsis and other outlets.

According to the messages, a fan made a playful suggestion to the actor: "Marry (Kim) Ji-won quickly, and start a 'lovestar' (a portmanteau of 'love' and 'Instagram'). Make your relationship public and show everyone how much you love each other. Announce to the world that you're each other's everything. Please get married."

In response, Kim wrote, "I hope you will now view the drama as just a drama," denying the dating rumors.

The two actors starred as a married couple in tvN's hit drama "Queen of Tears," which concluded in April last year. Three months later, dating rumors emerged after Kim Soo-hyun shared photos on social media from an overseas fan meeting but later deleted them.

Netizens pointed out similarities between Kim Soo-hyun's deleted photos and images Kim Ji-won posted while attending a fashion event in Taiwan around the same time, including comparable outfits and poses.

These observations fueled speculation of a possible relationship, which spread rapidly online. At the time, both actors' agencies stated they would not respond to every rumor. "Queen of Tears" concluded in April last year with a record-breaking 24.85 percent viewership rating.

Photos of Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won on social media that sparked dating rumors last year due to similar outfits and poses. Captured from their social media

Kim Soo-hyun is set to return this year with the Disney+ series "Knock-Off." The drama follows the story of Kim Sung-jun (played by Kim Soo-hyun), whose life is upended by the IMF crisis, transforming him from an ordinary office worker into the king of the counterfeit market.

Cho co-stars as Song Hye-jung, Sung-jun's former lover and a special judicial officer dedicated to cracking down on counterfeit goods.

This article is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.