Actors Ryu Hye-young (류혜영) and Go Kyung-pyo (고경표) played an older woman-younger man couple in the hit drama Reply 1988. In the series, Go Kyung-pyo's character, Sun-woo, first fell for Ryu Hye-young's Bora, confessing his feelings in the snow with the line, "I like you, noona." Their relationship officially began, enduring breakups and reconciliations before culminating in marriage, making them one of the drama's most iconic couples.
Off-screen, the two share an equally deep bond, having known each other since college and maintaining a friendship for 16 years. During a past appearance on MBC's variety show I Live Alone, their natural and intimate interactions, including unreserved physical contact, led viewers to speculate if their on-screen romance had become real.
Recently, Ryu Hye-young appeared on the YouTube show Shin Dong-yup's Zzanbro, where she candidly discussed her long-time friend, Go Kyung-pyo, and revealed her true feelings about him.
In the episode released on the 14th, Ryu Hye-young, along with fellow Assassins actors Lee Min-ho (이민호) and Kim Dae-myung (김대명), appeared as guests to share behind-the-scenes stories from filming and insights into their private lives. When the conversation turned to Ryu Hye-young and Go Kyung-pyo's relationship, comedian Jung Ho-chul (정호철) first asked about their dynamic. Lee Min-ho then directly questioned, "Have you ever been attracted to Go Kyung-pyo?" Ryu Hye-young responded without hesitation, "I'm always attracted to him." She elaborated, "Because he's a very handsome and charming man, when I see him looking cool, I get attracted." Her frank admission instantly energized the atmosphere.
However, Ryu Hye-young quickly clarified, "But that's different from love." She explained that her admiration and attraction to Go Kyung-pyo do not signify romantic love between a man and a woman, once again defining the boundaries of their relationship.
To prevent further misunderstandings, Ryu Hye-young shared an anecdote from their high school days. She revealed that in art high school, her class had 32 students who spent long hours together, attending various classes and forming a bond as natural as siblings. She admitted, "I'm really sorry if I caused any misunderstandings," emphasizing that they are "just friends."
Ryu Hye-young also recounted a behind-the-scenes story from their appearance on I Live Alone. At the time, Go Kyung-pyo naturally ate her leftover cold noodles, an intimate interaction that led many viewers to comment, "They're just like a couple." Lee Min-ho, who knows Go Kyung-pyo well, immediately defended his friend, explaining, "The Kyung-pyo I know is very greedy when it comes to food; I completely agree with that." Kim Dae-myung added, "He only has eyes for food." Their playful banter instantly turned what seemed like an ambiguous moment into a hilarious anecdote.
Additionally, a past incident where Go Kyung-pyo personally fixed Ryu Hye-young's bangs on the street was brought up. Lee Min-ho analyzed whether Go Kyung-pyo had "casually touched" her hair or "carefully helped fix" it.
Ryu Hye-young then revealed the surprising truth behind the moment, laughing, "He did kindly help fix it, but he had just picked his nose right before that." This unexpected revelation sent the set into laughter, instantly transforming the seemingly romantic interaction into a hilarious moment.
While Ryu Hye-young openly admitted that she is indeed "attracted" to Go Kyung-pyo's looks and charm, she reiterated that their 16 years of deep friendship is more akin to a sibling-like bond, not a romantic relationship.
