Kim Hee-chul, Momo deny rumors

Singers Kim Hee-chul of boy band Super Junior and Momo of girl group Twice are not dating, the two artists’ agencies stated on Tuesday.

On Monday morning, local news outlet Market News reported that Kim and Momo had been dating for two years, just a day after another member of Twice - Jihyo - admitted to her relationship with singer Kang Daniel.

On Tuesday afternoon, both Label SJ, Kim’s agency, and JYP Entertainment denied the news, saying they were only “close friends.”

“The two are just close colleagues, [the dating rumor] is groundless,” Label SJ said.

Earlier in the day, Market News reported that the two had gotten close while shooting a TV program together in 2017 and had been seeing each other for two years since then.

Kim had stated that he was a fan of Momo’s while appearing on various TV shows. Kim, who made his debut in 2005 as a part of boy band Super Junior, has been the subject of a number of dating rumors with other celebrities, but has denied all of them.

Leader of Twice Jihyo stated that she was seeing Kang Daniel “on good terms” on Monday.

By Yoon So-yeon