Taiwanese actor Ethan Ruan is once again making headlines—this time for his high-profile romance. After keeping things under wraps for months, the actor has effectively gone public with his relationship after being spotted on a romantic street date in Japan with his much younger girlfriend.
Photos captured by passersby on March 26 show Ethan Ruan casually holding hands with his partner as they stroll through the streets, appearing relaxed and affectionate. The sighting quickly spread across social media, confirming rumors that had been circulating for some time.
What caught even more attention than the public display of affection was the identity and appearance of his girlfriend. According to ETtoday, she is surnamed Xu, comes from a wealthy family, and is currently studying at a prestigious university in South Korea. Despite being around 20 years younger than the actor, she has reportedly been in a relationship with him for about 1.5 years.
Netizens were particularly stunned by her luxurious fashion choices during the outing. She was seen wearing a full designer outfit, including items from Hermès and Chanel, with the total value estimated at approximately 1.23 million TWD (around $30,000 USD). Her elegant visuals and affluent image quickly became a hot topic online.
Industry insiders reveal that Ethan Ruan is taking this relationship seriously, even maintaining a long-distance romance and frequently flying to South Korea to visit his girlfriend. This marks a more committed side of the actor, contrasting with his long-standing “bad boy” reputation.
Born in 1982, Ethan Ruan rose to fame after winning Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards for his performance in Monga. He also became a household name across Asia through the hit drama Fated to Love You alongside Joe Chen.
However, his love life has long been a source of controversy. The actor has been linked to multiple relationships and scandals over the years, including allegations of infidelity and complicated breakups. His past romance with Tiffany Hsu, which lasted nearly eight years, ended amid reports of repeated cheating, significantly damaging his public image.
He was also previously rumored to be dating Song Zu’er, who is 16 years younger than him. Their relationship faced strong backlash from the public and ultimately ended in 2021.
Now, at 43, Ethan Ruan’s latest relationship continues to divide public opinion. While some fans are intrigued by his apparent commitment, others remain skeptical, given his past. Regardless, the actor once again proves that his personal life is just as headline-grabbing as his on-screen career.