Kim Soo-hyun reacts after fan urges him to marry Queen of Tears co-star Kim Ji-won and declare his love: 'I hope...'

South Korean star Kim Soo-hyun has finally responded to dating rumors involving his Queen of Tears co-star, Kim Ji-won.

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

In one exchange, a fan playfully urged him to marry Kim Ji-won and publicly showcase their love, saying, “Marry (Kim) Ji-won quickly and start a 'lovestar' (a mix 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.”

Kim Soo-hyun responded, “I hope you will now view the drama as just a drama,” subtly denying the rumors.

The speculation began three months after Queen of Tears wrapped in April last year. Kim Soo-hyun had posted—and later deleted—photos from an overseas fan meeting. Fans noticed striking similarities between those images and ones Kim Ji-won had shared from a fashion event in Taiwan around the same time, including similar outfits and poses.

These observations fueled rumors of a real-life romance, which quickly spread online. At the time, both actors’ agencies declined to address the speculation directly, stating they wouldn’t respond to every rumor.

Queen of Tears concluded with a record-breaking 24.85% viewership rating, cementing its status as one of tvN’s biggest hits.

Kim Soo-hyun is now preparing for his return in the Disney+ series Knock-Off. The drama follows Kim Sung-jun (played by Kim Soo-hyun), whose life takes a dramatic turn during the IMF crisis, transforming him from an ordinary office worker into the king of the counterfeit market. Actress Cho co-stars as Song Hye-jung, Sung-jun’s former lover and a special judicial officer determined to crack down on counterfeit goods.