[Comprehensive] Kim Heewon Dismisses Scandal with Park Boyoung as "Absurd"

On the 25th, actor Kim Hee-won dismissed the past scandal with Park Bo-young as "absurd" on tvN's "House on Wheels."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-joo] Actor Kim Hee-won opened up about his past scandal with Park Bo-young, reigniting the previously raised dating rumors. Actor Kim Hee-won dismissed the past scandal as "absurd."

On the 25th episode of tvN's 'House on Wheels,' Gong Hyo-jin appeared as the second housewarming guest and mentioned the dating rumors with Park Bo-young first, saying, "There was a scandal, so I tried to call."

Kim Hee-won responded, "I heard there was a big fuss, so I just said it wasn't true and didn't care." He added, "People congratulated me, so I said, 'Are you really congratulating me? Thank you,' and that was it," sharing the situation at the time.

Later, Gong Hyo-jin told Sung Dong-il and Yeo Jin-goo, who joined late, "The two of us had a lot of fun stories. We also talked about your scandal, oppa."

Yeo Jin-goo immediately searched online to check Kim Hee-won's rumored dating partner and could not hide his surprised expression.

Sung Dong-il teased Kim Hee-won, saying, "Did you see who it was? Could you imagine? It's like an uncle's generation."

The dating rumors between Kim Hee-won and Park Bo-young surfaced earlier this year. On January 3rd, an online community posted a message titled 'The most explosive rumor going around now,' speculating about a relationship between Park Bo-young and Kim Hee-won.

According to photos posted by the author, Park Bo-young and Kim Hee-won visited restaurants and cafes together in Seoul and Andong.

Additionally, a Seoul cafe owner announced on Instagram that Park Bo-young and Kim Hee-won had visited, posting photos of both.

Although there were no photos of them together, a part presumed to be Kim Hee-won's sleeve was captured next to Park Bo-young, suggesting they visited at the same time.

The cafe owner told a media outlet at the time, "(Park Bo-young) talked with Mr. Kim Hee-won and left only a shadow," which rapidly spread the dating rumors.

Moreover, the 19-year age difference between the two fueled the topic.

Meanwhile, both Park Bo-young and Kim Hee-won's sides immediately denied the dating rumors. Kim Hee-won's agency stated, "Kim Hee-won and Park Bo-young are not in that kind of relationship at all," adding, "They are close senior and junior colleagues who occasionally meet for meals, and this was misinterpreted."

Park Bo-young also denied the rumors by posting on her fan cafe, saying, "Dating rumors? I'm all grown up now. So, no, it's not true. I became close with senior Hee-won while working on 'Hot Young Bloods' and 'The Mutants,' and now, regardless of age, we are good friends and good senior-junior colleagues."

She continued, "We often eat together, that's true. Since I don't have an agency, it's hard to issue a rebuttal article, but I wanted to say this at least," explaining the reason for her post.

She concluded, "I am closely monitoring the internet for parts written without verifying facts, and if it goes too far, I will take legal action."

Meanwhile, Park Bo-young was born in 1990, and Kim Hee-won in 1971, making a 19-year age difference. They formed a connection starting with the 2014 film 'Hot Young Bloods' and later appeared together in the 2015 film 'The Mutants.'