Beloved K-Drama’s “Divisive” Pair Comes Together Again After 20 Years

Kim Ha Neul and Kim Jae Won reunited 24 years after their hit 2002 MBC drama Romance — and fans can’t get over it.

The two actors shared photos from their reunion on February 28, 2026 (KST). Kim Ha Neul posted on Instagram with the simple caption, “Romance reunited.”

The photos show Kim Ha Neul solo and then standing next to Kim Jae Won, marking their first public reunion since the show’s original run. Fans quickly pointed out how little they have changed and how their chemistry looks just as strong as ever.

Their reunion took place on a Japanese satellite network special, celebrating the rebroadcast of Romance. The program had the stars looking back on filming memories and discussing the impact the drama had on their careers and international fans, especially in Japan.

The show featured a teacher-student romance plot, which sparked controversy then and still draws attention today. Despite this, Romance remains beloved and played a big role in pushing K-Dramas overseas in the early 2000s.

Watch highlights of their best-known Romance scene, where Kim Ha Neul tells Kim Jae Won their relationship can’t work because of the teacher-student gap: