When you think of K-drama longevity, you usually think of long-running series or actors with decades-long careers. But for a while, Park Sung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Kyung were the gold standard for something else: relationship stamina. In an industry where "dispatching" a couple usually leads to a breakup headline within eighteen months, these two stayed together for six years.
Honestly, they were the couple that felt safe. They weren't flashy. They didn't do massive joint CFs or post sugary-sweet selfies every three days. They just... existed. Until suddenly, they didn't.
If you’re wondering why everyone is suddenly looking back at them, it’s probably because of Park Sung Hoon’s meteoric rise. Between his villainous turn in The Glory and his role as Player 120 (Hyun-ju) in Squid Game 2, he's everywhere. But before the red suits and the revenge plots, he was one half of a very grounded, very respected acting duo.
The Meet-Cute was Pure Theater
Most celebrity couples meet on a glitzy TV set with 50 lighting technicians watching. Not these two.
Basically, it all started back in 2016. They were both cast in a play called Almost, Maine. If you aren’t a theater nerd, just know it’s a quirky, romantic show about people in a small town. It’s intimate. It requires chemistry.
By March 2017, the rumors were too loud to ignore. Their agencies, Prain TPC and BH Entertainment, confirmed they had moved from "colleagues" to "something more."
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Ryu Hyun Kyung is the sunbae (senior) in this situation. She’s been in the game since 1996, debuting when she was just twelve. Park Sung Hoon, despite being only two years younger, had a slower burn to his fame. At the time they started dating, he was still "that guy from Six Flying Dragons" to most people.
Six Years of "Box's Parents"
For half a decade, they were rock solid. They even had those cute, low-key couple details that fans obsessed over.
- The Nicknames: They called themselves "Box's Mother" and "Box's Father." Box is Ryu Hyun Kyung’s dog. It's the ultimate "we're basically married" signal in Korea.
- The 2018 Speech: When Park Sung Hoon won Best New Actor at the KBS Drama Awards, he didn't play it cool. He specifically thanked Ryu Hyun Kyung for being his strength.
- The Food Trucks: They did the classic actor move of sending coffee and snack trucks to each other’s sets. It’s the celebrity version of a "thinking of you" text, but with more tteokbokki.
Ryu once said in an interview for her film The Man Who Prays that Park was the person she relied on most during difficult times. She loved that they could just talk about acting for hours. It sounded like a partnership of equals.
The Quiet Breakup in 2022
In August 2022, the bubble burst.
It wasn't a scandal. There were no "leaked" photos of someone else or messy Instagram deletions (well, Ryu did change her ID, which tipped off the sleuths). Their agencies released the standard, sterilized statement: “They have decided to remain good colleagues. Please support both actors.”
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So, what actually happened?
The agencies never gave a specific reason, but if you look at their schedules at the time, it’s the classic "busy" trap. Park Sung Hoon was filming The Glory. His career was about to explode into the stratosphere. Ryu was busy with her own projects like Trolley and Cheer Up.
Sometimes, a six-year relationship doesn't end because of a fight. It ends because the two people who started it in 2016 aren't the same people in 2022. Park went from a respected theater actor to a global Hallyu villain. That kind of shift changes the gravity of a person's life.
Where They Are Now (2025-2026 Update)
It's been a few years since the split, and their paths have diverged significantly.
Park Sung Hoon has had a wild ride recently. He faced some serious heat in early 2025 over some social media activity that many labeled as insensitive, leading him to pull out of a leading role. However, he's been working on a comeback. He was recently confirmed for a new romance drama called Efficient Dating for Singles alongside Han Ji Min. It’s a bit of a departure for him—playing a gentle woodworking studio owner instead of a psychopathic conglomerate heir.
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Ryu Hyun Kyung continues to be the steady, versatile powerhouse she’s always been. She's recently been seen in The Frog and continues to pick roles that prioritize craft over clout.
The Reality of Public Romance
Looking back at Park Sung Hoon and Ryu Hyun Kyung, you've gotta respect how they handled it. Six years is a lifetime in the entertainment industry. They didn't use their relationship for "clout" or "likes."
The lesson here? Even the most "dependable" couples (Ryu’s words!) can find themselves at a crossroads. As Park Sung Hoon moves into this new phase of his career, trying to shed the villain image and navigate the pitfalls of modern fame, his long history with Ryu remains a testament to a time when his life was a bit simpler—and perhaps a bit quieter.
If you’re keeping track of their current projects, you can see Park Sung Hoon in Squid Game 3 (filmed back-to-back with Season 2) or catch Ryu Hyun Kyung’s latest film work. While they aren't "Box's Parents" anymore, they both seem to be finding their footing in a very different-looking Korean entertainment landscape.
Keep an eye on the 2026 drama schedules; with Park's new romantic lead role, we’re about to see if he can successfully pivot from the "bad guy" everyone loves to hate to the "good guy" everyone wants to root for.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check out their origins: If you want to see the chemistry that started it all, look up clips or scripts from the play Almost, Maine.
- Follow their 2026 projects: Monitor the release of Efficient Dating for Singles to see Park Sung Hoon’s image rehabilitation in real-time.
- Support the "Senior": Don't sleep on Ryu Hyun Kyung’s filmography; her work in The Servant and Cyrano Agency remains some of the best acting in the industry.