![Sooyoung and Jung Kyung-ho [Instagram]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/11/news-p.v1.20260609.8b52993f90954a8a9eaf0b7581e6a7cd_P1.jpg)
Sooyoung, 36, a member of K-pop group Girls' Generation, is set to make her first official public appearance since news broke of her split from actor Jung Kyung-ho, 42.
Sooyoung will participate in the 12th Marathon with the Visually Impaired on Saturday at Peace Plaza in Sangam World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul, running the course alongside other participants. All proceeds from the event will go toward welfare programs for the visually impaired.
The appearance comes days after news of her breakup with Jung emerged on Monday. The two had dated since 2012 and were widely celebrated as one of the entertainment industry's most enduring couples, but are said to have grown apart as each pursued separate careers.
Sooyoung's father has reportedly been battling retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye disease, for more than 15 years.
She has long served as a goodwill ambassador for the Campaign for Sight, a blindness-prevention organization, and in 2023 donated 300 million won (about $197,000) to fund research into treatments for sight-loss diseases. She has been a leading advocate for the visually impaired and patients with hereditary retinal conditions.
Sooyoung, who has also been expanding her career as an actor, is set to take the stage as Portia in a production of "The Merchant of Venice," opening July 8.
paq@heraldcorp.com
