Yoo Seung-ho, Lim Se-ju confirm breakup on same day dating rumors emerge

Rumors that actor Yoo Seung-ho, 33, and Lim Se-ju (real name Lim Ji-hyeon), 35, had been dating for six years were confirmed Thursday — along with news that the couple had already broken up, all within the same half-day.

Yoo's agency, 333 Entertainment, said Thursday that "the two were in a relationship but have since parted ways," and went on to say they "are now on good terms as colleagues."

Lim's agency, Moving Pictures Company, also confirmed that "it is true they dated for about six years, but they have broken up."

Earlier that morning, a media outlet reported that the two first met on the tvN drama series "Memorist," which aired in March 2020, and developed a romantic relationship that had continued for six years. Yoo played the lead role of Dong-baek in the series, while Lim played Lee Seul-bi.

While the six-year relationship was confirmed, news of the breakup emerged at the same time as the dating rumors. It marked the first time dating rumors had surfaced about Yoo since his debut in 2000.

Yoo began his acting career on the MBC drama series "Gasigogi" and rose to wider recognition through the 2002 film "The Way Home." He spent much of his youth in the public eye, earning the nickname "the nation's little brother," before establishing himself as an adult actor through projects including "The Legend," "God of Study," "I Miss You" and "When the Camellia Blooms."

In recent years, Yoo has made a visible effort to break from his familiar image. In 2024, he made his stage debut in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America," playing Prior Walter, and the following year took on the role of Brutus in "Killing Caesar," a production based on Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." He also made a special appearance as psychopathic artist Yoo Seong-won in SBS's "Chaebol X Detective 2," which wrapped Sept. 19, taking on a villainous role.

Lim began her career as a singer in 2011 under the stage name Haeora, then turned to acting in earnest after appearing in the film "Salut d'Amour." She built her resume in supporting roles in "My Golden Life," "My Only One" and "Zombie Detective," before gaining wider recognition as Choi Gyeong-a — a part-time supermarket worker hiding a painful past — in the Netflix series "Murderer's Paradox," and as Hwang Sil-jang in the tvN series "Maestra." She has also continued making music, releasing an indie soul R&B single, "I Want to Be Loved," the same year, for which she co-wrote the lyrics and composed the music.