The on-screen chemistry between YoonA and Lee Junho in Netflix’s King the Land captured fans’ attention and sparked dating rumors. More recently, Girls’ Generation member Sooyoung jokingly supported the idea of the two being in a romantic relationship IRL.
She shared, “I also watched ‘King the Land’ and thought the two of them were so cute together,” and added, “I told YoonA, ‘I’d even want to see the two of you dating.’”
Rumors first appeared in early July 2023, when an insider suggested YoonA and Lee Junho had a romantic connection before filming the series. SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment quickly denied the claims, confirming the actors were only close friends. Despite this, fans continued to ship them, encouraged by their off-screen rapport and Sooyoung’s remarks.
In “King the Land,” YoonA played Cheon Sarang, a dedicated hotel employee, while Lee Junho starred as Gu Won, the charismatic heir of a hotel empire.
Their performances were praised for authenticity, and reviewers frequently noted their strong chemistry. The show, however, faced some criticism for the portrayal of an Arab prince in episode 9, but overall it received positive reviews for its story and character development.
The Netflix K-drama “King the Land,” starring Lee Junho and YoonA, concluded on August 6, 2023, achieving its highest nationwide rating of 13.8%, with 3.4 million viewers.
The finale highlighted Gu Won and Cheon Sarang’s wedding and a playful epilogue scene. Domestically and internationally, the series was a hit, topping Netflix charts in 23 countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and remaining in the top 10 for eight weeks.
Meanwhile, YoonA will be next seen in the romantic comedy movie, “2’O Clock Date,” whereas Lee Junho is in talks for a superhero drama.
