• BoA, 30, and actor Joo Won, 29, apparently started dating late last year.

BoA, 30, and actor Joo Won, 29, apparently started dating late last year. (Photo : YouTube/Abiz - Entertainment Buzz)

The year is starting out right for K-Pop fans and their idols. More dating and wedding news were confirmed recently, one of which is that of BoA and Joo Won. The pair is confirmed to be in a relationship and have been dating since late 2016.

The BoA and Joo Won dating news was first released by local media outlet TV Report (via Koreaboo). According to the report, BoA and Joo Won were introduced to each other through a mutual friend. Although they started out as casual friends, they developed romantic feelings for each other after attending a particular event. They were both seen at the movie premiere of "Venus Talk," in which BoA made a cameo appearance.

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After the news broke, fans speculated that the mutual friend who brought BoA and Joo Won together is TVXQ's Yunho. BoA and Yunho have been friends for over 10 years and started out their careers early with SM Entertainment. She even visited Yunho in the military and updated fans about his status. Joo Won also confirmed in a previous interview that he is close friends with Yunho.

Both BoA and Joo Won's respective agencies confirmed their relationship. "Joo Won is in a relationship with BoA. We did not check in-depth with Joo Won since it is a personal matter," the actor's agency, Huayi Brothers, said in a statement.

According to Soompi, BoA and Joo Won grew closer with each other since they share the same hobbies and values. It is said that they both enjoy hiking and playing golf, and was attracted to one another because of their healthy lifestyles.

SM Entertainment also said that BoA and Joo Won "have a lot of common interest in music and acting so they began growing fond of each other."

A source close to the couple revealed that the pair is very "heartwarming" and communicates well with one another due to their similarities. While BoA and Joo Won are cautious when they go out on dates, many of their friends are jealous of the type of bond and relationship they have.