South Korean football star Lee Kang-in reportedly dates construction magnate heiress

South Korean footballer Lee Kang-in. Photo from Lee's Instagram

Reports from South Korean news outlet Dispatch on Monday stated that the couple started their romance earlier this year and were spotted dining at the Parisian restaurant Siena Paris this spring.

The news outlet revealed that the couple first met earlier this year after Park was introduced to Lee’s older sister at a social event in Paris, where they quickly formed a close bond.

The couple attended a baseball game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul in June, where Lee wore a Doosan home jersey and Park sported an away jersey, with Lee’s sister also in attendance.

According to sources, their relationship involves enjoying "typical" activities like dining out, attending sporting events, and wearing matching items to show their affection. Their relationship is well-known within their social circle, evidenced by Lee’s former Valencia teammates Pablo Gozálbez Gilabert and César Banacloy Harcourt following Park on Instagram, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.

As of Monday, neither Park nor Lee has publicly addressed the rumors.

Earlier this year, there were rumors of Lee dating singer-turned-actor Lee Na-eun, which both parties denied, clarifying they were just acquaintances.

Lee, 23, is a professional footballer for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the South Korean national team. He made his professional debut with Spanish club Valencia at the age of 17 in 2018, marking him as the youngest South Korean to turn professional in Europe.

Park, 25, is a graduate student in France. Her grandfather Park Yong-sung served as the seventh chairman of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, now Doosan Enerbility, and was also the former chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Doosan Enerbility, part of the Doosan Group owned by the Park family, is the oldest running company in South Korea, according to local media reports. It was ranked among the top 10 largest heavy equipment manufacturers worldwide in 2018.