Kim Yeon-jung Reveals 5-Year Secret Romance with Ha Joo-seok

Original article (Korean):  [단독] 김연정 "♥하주석과 5년 열애, 동료·회사도 몰랐다…들키고 이틀 간 잠수" (인터뷰①)  |  XSports News

📌 Summary

Kim Yeon-jung, the popular cheerleader who surprised baseball fans nationwide with her marriage announcement last year, has broken her silence in an exclusive interview. She revealed she had been secretly dating Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ha Joo-seok for five years — a relationship so hidden that even her teammates and agency were unaware until the news broke.

Now five months into marriage, Kim shares how their long-distance lifestyle continues post-wedding due to ongoing home renovations, and how the sudden spotlight led her to go offline for two days out of embarrassment and guilt, especially given the unwritten rule against cheerleaders dating players.

Kim Yeon-jung Breaks Silence on Secret 5-Year Romance

In a heartfelt and candid interview with XSports News, cheerleader Kim Yeon-jung has opened up about her previously undisclosed five-year relationship with Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ha Joo-seok. The couple’s marriage announcement last year shocked fans and media alike, not just because of their high-profile connection to Korean baseball, but because the romance had remained completely under wraps — known to almost no one, not even her fellow cheerleaders or management.

Kim revealed that she had planned to inform her agency only after sending out wedding invitations in September, intending to share the news quietly. But when the story was broken by media outlets — including a comment from commentator Jung Min-cheol — she was suddenly flooded with calls and messages. "I apologized to my agency’s CEO," Kim shared, "but he told me, 'Are there really things in life that go exactly as planned?' and embraced me with understanding."

As team leader of the Hanwha Eagles cheer squad, Kim felt an added layer of guilt, acknowledging the unspoken industry rule that cheerleaders should avoid relationships with players. "I felt responsible," she admitted. "I was in a leadership position, so going against that norm weighed on me." The sudden attention after the marriage announcement was overwhelming — so much so that she went completely offline for two days, describing it as her first time ever acting like an avoidant person.

Life After Marriage: Still Living Apart, But Happier Than Ever

Despite being five months into married life, Kim says she hasn’t fully felt the "newlywed" vibe — mostly because the couple continues to live separately. Ha Joo-seok stays in hotels during away games, while Kim splits her time between her parents’ home in Busan and the cheerleader dormitory. Their post-wedding routine mirrors their dating days, largely due to ongoing renovations on their future shared home.

"People even commented that maybe my husband’s performance dipped because we were too busy enjoying our honeymoon," Kim laughed. "But honestly, we’re barely seeing each other — our routines haven’t changed much at all."

Still, she emphasized that their marriage hasn’t affected her professional commitments. In fact, Kim is now entering her 10th consecutive year as team leader for the Hanwha Eagles — a rare achievement in the cheerleading world. She credits both her passion for the job and her husband’s support. "He told me how happy he was that we were wearing the same uniform and cheering for the same team during last year’s playoffs. I felt the same way."

Kim also expressed gratitude to the Hanwha Eagles organization for supporting her decision to continue working after marriage — a path not commonly taken. "Most cheerleaders retire after getting married, so I wasn’t sure if I could keep going. But the team welcomed me back. I hope this can set a positive precedent in the industry."

From Secret Love to TV Stardom: 'The Love Expert of Joseon' and Beyond

The couple’s love story gained even more attention after they appeared on TV Chosun’s 'The Love Expert of Joseon', where they shared intimate details of their wedding and courtship. The special episode achieved a peak viewership of 3.3% (Nielsen Korea), making it the top-rated cable Monday variety show at the time.

Despite the success, Kim admitted she was initially hesitant to appear. "I was scared people would look at us negatively. We’d have to reveal private moments, and I worried about fan reactions." But encouraged by her husband and reassured by the production team, she agreed — and ultimately felt it was the right choice. "The staff guided us well, and the audience found our story sweet. It turned out positively."

In fact, Kim revealed that Ha Joo-seok was a bit disappointed that he didn’t get more screen time. "He’s actually quite extroverted and loves being around people," she shared with a laugh. "He’s very popular with juniors and gets along great with seniors. He even helps me a lot with my YouTube channel — he’s more active than I am! Sometimes I feel like my energy gets drained next to him."

Kim also expressed interest in appearing on couple observation shows like 'I Live Alone' or 'We Got Married 2', saying they’d love to share more of their daily lives with fans.

What Fans Are Saying

Fans have flooded social media with supportive messages, calling the couple "goals" and praising Kim for balancing love, career, and personal integrity. Many have expressed admiration for her decision to continue as a cheerleader post-marriage, seeing it as a step toward normalizing women’s career longevity in Korean entertainment.

From a secret romance to a national love story, Kim Yeon-jung and Ha Joo-seok’s journey reflects changing attitudes in Korea’s sports and entertainment culture — where love, once hidden, is now celebrated in the spotlight.