A Photo with Han Dong-hoon Marked '7上'... Lee Jung-jae Says "Showing Off Friendship? We're Just Alumni"

'Squid Game 2' Interview
"Just Ate Together Because We Were Classmates" Clarifies Relationship

Actor Lee Jung-jae clarified rumors about his friendship with former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, saying, "We just had a meal because we are alumni."

Actor Lee Jung-jae and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon met at a restaurant in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The two are alumni of Seoul Hyundai High School, class of the 5th graduating class.
[Photo source=Online community capture]

In an interview for Netflix's "Squid Game 2" held on the 2nd in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Lee Jung-jae said, "Since both of us are famous people, I think it became more newsworthy," and emphasized again, "We just had a meal because we are alumni, but the photo was leaked. We did not leak it."

Regarding the situation at the time, he explained, "After having a meal that day, the restaurant gave us a pack of fresh kimchi as a gift. I was thankful and said, 'Let's take a photo with the kimchi,'” adding, “I took the photo with my phone, but I was curious how this photo was published (as an article). Even back then, Han Dong-hoon already had fans. The fans were following him. Next to the manager who was taking photos with my phone, a Han Dong-hoon fan took the photo," revealing how the photo was leaked. It was a photo taken by a supporter of former leader Han that spread.

Lee Jung-jae said, "There is a misunderstanding that one of us revealed the photo to show off our friendship, but that is absolutely not true," and added, "We only had a meal once because we are alumni." He reiterated, "I have never mentioned his actions even once."

The two met in November 2023 at a barbecue restaurant in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. After having dinner for about two hours, Minister Han was reported to have left by riding in Lee’s car. Minister Han and Lee are the same age, both born in 1973, and graduated together from Hyundai High School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Later, because Lee’s partner is Im Se-ryeong, vice chairman of Daesang Holdings, Daesang Holdings was grouped as a Han Dong-hoon theme stock and continued to surge. It recorded the upper price limit for seven trading days, leading to a trading suspension. This was the longest period of consecutive upper limit price records for preferred stocks since June 15, 2015, when the price limit was expanded to 30%.