Fans of “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” stars Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk were shocked when YG Entertainment confirmed that the couple has split up only months after admitting that they were dating. Many shippers of the #NamLee couple were saddened by the news after rooting for the on screen couple to become a real life pair.
From reel to real
Looking back,“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” was not the first time that Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk were paired together for a project. Both artists have already worked as models for print ads and CFs before and developed a strong friendship over the years.
Their rapport was very evident on the set of drama which happened to be Nam Joo Hyuk’s first leading role. The pair developed romantic feelings for each other while filming.
Fans and co-workers were quick to pick up on the strong chemistry between Nam Joo Hyuk and Lee Sung Kyung. Behind the scenes footages gave fans a peek into their sweetness off cam with Nam Joo Hyuk even once telling a cameraman that Lee Sung Kyung was his girlfriend. Many shippers hoped it was true, and it turned out that it was. Still, there was no confirmation.
One of the first indications that the on screen couple has transitioned to a real life romance was Lee Sung Kyung's attendance in Nam Joo Hyuk’s first fan meeting.
The actress wanted to keep it low key and tried to blend in with the audience but her proud boyfriend pointed her out to the crowd and everyone just went mad. After being spotted together at the Coldplay concert in Seoul, it did not take long for the confirmation to come out from YG.
Why the breakup?
According to the YG Entertainment statement, the “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” stars have made it official that they have parted ways.
The statement cited that both actors had very busy schedules making it difficult to maintain their relationship.
Still, some fans are not quite so convinced that the schedules were the only reason for the breakup. Some have speculated that Nam Joo Hyuk’s drama “Bride of Habaek” may have something to do with it. One of the comments in a thread speculated that Lee Sung Kyung may have become jealous after the sensual kissing scene shared by her boyfriend and co-star Shin Se Kyung in episode 14 of the drama.
There are also some fans who believe that the couple broke up because their relationship has affected the actor's bankability as a leading man. It was recently reported that “Bride of Habaek” posted the lowest ever viewing rating for a drama at 2.7 percent. It was a huge blow for tvN after the network pinned its hopes on the drama to pick up the momentum left by its top-rated supernatural drama “Goblin.”
Still, shippers continue to hope that the couple will get back together once they’ve ironed out their schedules and become more stable in their careers.
