Cheerleader-Athlete Romance Trend: Park Ki-ryang's Past Remarks Resurface Amidst Wedding Announcements

Recent wedding announcements between professional athletes and cheerleaders have ignited fervent discussions within the sports community.

Amidst this, past statements made by prominent cheerleader Park Ki-ryang on television, asserting her 'no-dating rule with athletes,' have resurfaced and are gaining renewed attention.

During her appearance on the SBS show 'Shinbal Bbajgo Dolsing Four Men' in July, Park Ki-ryang revealed her personal principle: 'I do not date athletes. It can cause harm to both parties.' She candidly shared the prevailing atmosphere where relationships between athletes and cheerleaders were considered taboo, a rule she adhered to in her pursuit of becoming the best cheerleader.

Even during her peak popularity in the 2010s, Park Ki-ryang had stated, 'The relationship between a cheerleader and an athlete is like an unwritten rule.' She admitted to rejecting confessions received through mini-hompy messages, as managing such interactions via social media was deemed difficult.

However, the recent string of wedding news indicates that this 'unwritten rule' is gradually being broken.

Most recently, on the 1st, it was revealed that Kim Yeon-jung, a cheerleader for the Hanwha Eagles, is set to marry Ha Ju-seok, an infielder for the Kiwoom Heroes. Their wedding is scheduled for December.

Ha Ju-seok joined the Hanwha Eagles in 2012 and has been a key shortstop, leading his team to their first postseason appearance in seven years with a .314 batting average in the latter half of the current season. Kim Yeon-jung, who debuted in 2007 and gained significant popularity, has cheered for teams like Lotte and NC, and is currently active with the Hanwha Eagles.

Prior to this, last month, the marriage of KIA Tigers catcher Han Jun-soo and former LG Twins cheerleader Kim Yi-seo also became a major topic of conversation.

Online communities are abuzz with reactions like, 'It seems like the unwritten rule Park Ki-ryang talked about is becoming a thing of the past,' and 'As times change, the relationship between cheerleaders and athletes seems to be becoming more natural.' Conversely, some voices express caution, questioning, 'Aren't there still boundaries to maintain in the professional realm?' This highlights the ongoing public interest and diverse perspectives surrounding relationships between cheerleaders and athletes.

Ultimately, Park Ki-ryang's candid remarks continue to spark relevant discussions, drawing renewed attention in conjunction with the evolving atmosphere within the sports world.

Netizens are commenting, 'It seems the unwritten rule Park Ki-ryang mentioned is becoming a thing of the past' and 'As times change, the relationship between cheerleaders and athletes seems to be becoming more natural.' However, some netizens also express caution, saying, 'Shouldn't there still be some boundaries in the professional realm?', indicating a spectrum of opinions.