BIGBANG's Daesung's agency shuts down dating rumors with KARA's Heo Youngji

BIGBANG's Daesung is not dating KARA's Heo Youngji — at least, that's what his agency says.

On June 22, a representative from Daesung's agency R&D Company told CBS Nocut News that the two are simply "close colleagues," quickly shutting down speculation that had been picking up online.

The rumors kicked off over the weekend, after photos and clips spread showing Daesung and Heo Youngji seated side by side at MAMAMOO's 2026 world tour 'FORWARD' (4WARD) stop in Seoul, held at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu. Once fans spotted the two taking in the show together, the "wait, are they a thing?" questions started flying.

According to the agency, though, there was more to the picture — literally. OH MY GIRL's Hyojung was at the concert with them too, and it was only the clips zeroing in on Daesung and Heo Youngji that made the outing look like a date. The two had also gotten to know each other through Daesung's own program beforehand, the agency added.

The agency's bottom line was about as plain as it gets: they're close colleagues, nothing more.

Daesung has had a busy year otherwise. In April, BIGBANG took the stage at Coachella as a full group — G-DRAGON, Taeyang, and Daesung together — for the first time, a set that doubled as the opening signal for the group's 20th-anniversary world tour.

Heo Youngji, for her part, has been keeping active on the variety front. She's set to appear as a storyteller on the reality-based thriller talk show 'The Psychopath I Met,' premiering July 12.

For now, the dating chatter has been laid to rest — by the agency's account, the two are just close colleagues who happened to catch a concert together, friends in tow.