(Yonhap)

Actress Han Chae-ah has denied rumors she was dating Korean soccer legend Cha Bum-kun’s son Cha Sae-jji, her agency Mystic Entertainment said Thursday.

Local media reported the same day that Han, 36, and Cha Sae-jji, 32, have been dating for a year.

Cha Sae-jji is the third son of legendary soccer player Cha Bum-kun, who played in the German professional league Bundesliga in the 1970s and 1980s. The son became well known to the public from shooting an ad in 2012 with his father and brother, Cha Du-ri, who is also a retired soccer player.

(Screen capture from YouTube)

“It is true that they became close after their mutual acquaintance introduced them to each other,” said an agency official.

“But the dating rumor is completely groundless.”

Han starred in TV dramas including KBS’ “Bridal Mask,” SBS’ “All About My Marriage” and, most recently, tvN’s “Introvert Boss.”

By Hong Dam-young (dyhong@heraldcorp.com)