Han So-hee's career dive after Ryu Jun-yeol relationship

According to the Korea Times, Korean actress Han So-hee has undergone a dramatic image makeover, sporting a new and shorter hairstyle in an Instagram post. Despite the positive reception to her new appearance, the actress had her career harmed by her relationship controversy earlier this year.

Since coming out with her relationship with Ryu Jun-yeol on March 15, and then confirming its end on March 30, 2024, Han So-hee’s career has taken several hits, including the loss of several contracts.

Han So-hee is one of South Korea’s most recognisable actresses and brand ambassadors.

Born on November 18, 1994, in Ulsan, South Korea, Han So-hee started out her career as a minor actress and model when she first starred in SHINee’s music video for “Tell Me What To Do”, reports Naver.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

Han So-hee landed her first proper acting gig on TV with MBC’s ‘Money Flower’ in 2017 a year later, according to Naver. It was a rather big role for Han So-hee as she was cast in the main role.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

According to a SBS News report, Han So-hee begrudgingly entered the entertainment industry as it was the most profitable way she could save up for university in France, which she claims she had gotten admitted to but could not afford tuition for.

As luck would have it, starting a career in entertainment paid off for Han So-hee financially. According to Allkpop, her first gig as a model earned her approximately fifteen thousand USD just from one commercial.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

Han So-hee only made it big as an actress with her work in the JTBC drama ‘The World of the Married’, where she played the main role of Yeo Da-kyung. The role shot her to massive fame and earned her many nominations for acting.

Since then, Han So-hee has become one of South Korea’s household names, especially with her prominent presence in media, not just with acting, but also with brand ambassadorships!

Image: JTBC

Vogue reports that Han So-hee’s popularity has earned her ambassadorships with many huge brands, such as L’Oreal, Giordano, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, Balenciaga, and Omega, to name a few.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

In 2024, Han So-hee has been involved in one of K-entertainment’s biggest scandals of 2024, which was the love triangle between her, actor Ryu Joon-yeol, and the K-pop star Hyeri from ‘Girls Day’.

Image: xeesoxee, ryusdb, hyeri_0609 / Instagram

Allkpop reports that when rumors that Han So-hee and Ryu Joon-yeol were dating first broke out, the agencies of both actors put out statements to deny the rumors. However, they were refuted by Han So-hee on her blog, where she admitted that they were actually dating.

Image: xeesoxee, ryusdb / Instagram

Since then, more rumors have spread about Han So-hee and Ryu Joon-yeol being accused of having started their relationship unethically, when Ryu Joon-yeol was still dating Hyeri, reports Koreaboo.

Image: xeesoxee, ryusdb, hyeri_0609 / Instagram

The same Koreaboo report noted that Han So-hee had come to clarify that she had not been dating Ryu Joon-yeol while he was still with Hyeri on her blog.

Image: xeesoxee, ryusdb / Instagram

However, the way Han So-hee had been outspoken about her stand in the relationship had already caused damage to her career, along with the relationship declaration. Many netizens were offended by Han So-hee’s attitude regarding the situation, Allkpop reports.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

According to Allkpop, netizens have questioned not only Han So-hee's claims that she is not a third party or in a 'transit relationship' with Ryu Jun-yeol, but also some of Han So-hee's previous activities.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

A Koreaboo report notes that netizens took offense not just to Han So-hee’s social media response to the dating situation, but also to her attitude during Paris Fashion Week during the entire saga, where she was seen behaving strangely and yelling at a person.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

Netizens have dug up Han So-hee's previous comments about being compared to Song Hye-kyo during her early career, in which she reacted negatively and aggressively when compared to the veteran actress. According to KBIzoom, this worsened her already tarnished reputation.

Image: JTBC

According to Allkpop, netizens have also focused on Han So-hee's claims of being accepted into a French art university, hinting that Han So-hee might have lied about being accepted into a French university.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

The investigative netizen, in the same Allkpop report, alleges that what Han So-hee had claimed about her art school acceptance contradicts the official governmental process of how Koreans can enrol in French universities.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

As a result of the accumulative backlash, Han So-hee had lost several contracts. Soompi reports that she had lost a lead acting role in the film ‘Delusion’, and was reported by Allkpop to have also been dropped from the drama ‘Deception’.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

Han So-hee was also reported to have possibly lost endorsement deals with several brands. Despite her agency's denial, Korea JoongAng Daily reported that it was widely believed she lost her endorsement deals with three brands due to the relationship saga.

Image: JTBC

Even though Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol officially broke up on March 30, according to Soompi, the actress' career and image have undoubtedly suffered during (and resulting from) the relationship.

Image: xeesoxee, ryusdb / Instagram

Despite losing contracts and favor with Korean media, Han So-hee has not lost it all. She will be starring in the upcoming Netflix series, 'Gyeongseong Creature 2' alongside Park Seo-jun, and has also been cast in 'Project Y', reports The Korea Times.

Image: xeesoxee / Instagram

Follow Showbizz Daily to stay informed and enjoy more content!