(OSEN)

King Kong Entertainment, home to both actor Yoo Yeon-seok and actress Kim Ji-won, denied rumors that they are dating Monday.

This came after news outlet Sports Chosun reported that the two are in a relationship for at least four years. It added they were spotted at a lamb skewers restaurant in Seoul last Tuesday, along with their managers. After the dinner, Kim returned home in Yoo’s car.

However, King Kong Entertainment said it was a casual dinner.

“They have been close friends for a long time,” said a staff at the agency. “They were never dating.”

The report was published after a promotion event for “Love, Lies,” attended by Yoo.

Rumors of their dating first cropped up in 2012, when they costarred in one of the episodes of an omnibus film “Horror Stories.” In 2015, a local magazine Woman Sense’s report again ignited the rumor. Each time, King Kong Entertainment has denied it, saying they are just friends.

Yoo stars in the upcoming periodic film “Love, Lies,” while Kim is acting as a junior officer in KBS 2TV’s drama series “Descendants of the Sun.”

By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)