Park Ji-sung in Romantic Relationship with SBS Presenter

Kim Min-ji-I (left) and Park Ji-sung

Park Ji-sung of Queens Park Rangers has been dating Kim Min-ji-I, a TV presenter on SBS, it was revealed on Wednesday. In photos released by a local media outlet, they were shown walking around a park beside the Han River in the rain on Tuesday with their arms linked, and watching Korea's final Asian qualifier for the 2014 World Cup against Iran on a smartphone.

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Park played the leading role in Korea's advance to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup and captained the team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where it made the round of 16 in the quadrennial event for the first time overseas. After he joined Manchester United in the English Premier League in 2005, Park scored 27 goals in 205 games over seven seasons. During his time there, United won four league titles and one UEFA Champions league.

Rumors have been swirling for a while that the football star, now in his 30s, is romantically involved. In July last year, he even requested discretion from the local media in a bid to protect his privacy.

As soon as they were spotted on a date, the charity organization that he launched, JS Foundation, said Park will talk about his relationship with Kim and their wedding plans at a press event in Suwon World Cup Stadium on Thursday, before awarding scholarships to students.

Kim's mother confirmed the latest report, saying "My daughter told me she has been dating Park, so I recently met him. I liked him because he was very courteous".

Kim majored in painting at Ewha Womans University and joined SBS in 2010. Her father served as a senior judge for the Seoul Central District Court and now works with a law firm, while her mother teaches Oriental painting at the University of Suwon.