Actress Son Ye Jin is once again going viral — but this time because of a set of unexpectedly adorable throwback photos from her teenage years.

Recently, old images of the actress affectionately interacting with singer-songwriter Joo Young Hoon began circulating online, immediately drawing massive attention from netizens. At first glance, many people were shocked by how intimate the photos looked, especially since they showed Son Ye Jin hugging the celebrity tightly while he fed her a steamed bun.

However, fans quickly realized the photos were actually taken decades ago during her appearance on the KBS program Star Date.

At the time, Son Ye Jin was still a teenager and had openly admitted that Joo Young Hoon was both her celebrity crush and ideal type. According to reports from that era, she even participated in a challenge for the chance to win a one-on-one date with the singer — and ultimately took first place.

What truly caught attention again years later was how openly excited the future actress looked once she finally met him.

The resurfaced photos show a completely different side of Son Ye Jin compared to the elegant, composed image fans are used to seeing today. In the clips and images from the show, the young actress reportedly ran directly into Joo Young Hoon’s arms the moment she saw him, wrapping herself around his neck while squealing with excitement like an ordinary fangirl meeting her ultimate celebrity crush.

Joo Young Hoon also played along warmly, even feeding her food while she smiled uncontrollably throughout the interaction.

Rather than criticizing the actress for the unusually affectionate moment, most netizens found the photos incredibly charming and relatable. Many commented that it was refreshing to see one of Korea’s most glamorous actresses behaving exactly like any normal teenager overwhelmed by meeting her idol.

Others became distracted by something else entirely: her visuals.

A huge portion of the online discussion focused on how little Son Ye Jin appears to have changed over the years. Fans repeatedly pointed out that her natural beauty in the old broadcast looked almost identical to how she appears today, despite the footage dating back to her teenage years.

Some netizens even joked that her husband, Hyun Bin, might feel a little jealous seeing the old clips suddenly resurface online.

The viral reaction once again highlights why Son Ye Jin remains one of South Korea’s most beloved actresses. Despite decades of fame and her reputation as one of the entertainment industry’s timeless beauty icons, moments like these remind fans that she once experienced the same awkward excitement, celebrity crushes, and emotional fangirl moments as everyone else.

And honestly, that may be exactly why so many people are finding the old photos impossible not to love.