The two main cast members (above) of "Sungkyunkwan Scandal," a KBS drama based on a tale of elite students set in the late Joseon period, are reported to be in a romantic relationship, the Sports Chosun reported on Thursday.

Park Min-young plays an intelligent and beautiful woman who disguises herself as a man to enter the inner circle of Joseon's top academic institution, and her opposite is a handsome yet reticent man played by Micky Yoochun, who quit the popular idol group TVXQ and recently formed another group named JYJ with two other TVXQ members.

According to the report, the two stars started to have feelings for each other last month. Park's cheerful personality might have appealed to Micky Yoochun, as the top-rated singer has recently had a difficult time because of legal wrangling with his former agency SM Entertainment and the suspended activities of JYJ in Japan.

The TV series, based on a best-selling novel, depicts a full-fledged romantic relationship between the two characters despite the strict social norms of Joseon that prohibited women from entering the highest academic institution.

The real-life drama coincides with the deepening fictional relationship on-screen, whose viewership is roaring near 10 per cent, beating other rivals in the same Monday-Tuesday time slots.

Thanks to the intriguing plot and the media spotlight on Micky Yoochun, the drama series is now the talk of the town, attracting a growing number of enthusiastic fans, many of whom are female viewers identifying themselves with Park's character.

Shortly after the news of the stars' relationship broke on Thursday, the agencies representing Park and Micky Yoochun denied that they are in a serious relationship, saying that they are just good friends.