A Korean pop star who previously had to issue a heartfelt apology to fans for being in a relationship is once again single.
Karina and actor Lee Jae-wook caused a stir in the K-pop community when they announced their relationship in February, facing backlash from some upset fans who accused her of “betrayal”.
Lee’s agency, C-JeS Studio, has confirmed their split, stating that he intends to prioritize his filming projects.
They added that the duo would “continue to support each other as colleagues”.
The backlash – which also saw Karina criticised for being an irresponsible frontwoman of her four-woman group, aespa – prompted her to issue an apology on Instagram, where she vowed “to heal the wounds” she had inflicted.
“I apologise for surprising you greatly,” wrote the singer, whose real name is Yu Ji-min. She pledged to show fans a “more mature and hardworking side” in future.
When news of their relationship emerged, some fans expressed their discontent by driving a “protest truck” to her management agency.
“Is the love given to you by your fans not enough?” blared an electronic billboard on the vehicle.
aespa, which made its debut in 2020 with the single “Black Mamba,” is anticipated to release a new full-length album in the current quarter. Lee, aged 25, rose to prominence after starring in the popular fantasy period drama “Alchemy of Souls.” He is also featured in the Disney+ original series “Royal Roader,” which premiered in February.
Karina’s apology and subsequent breakup shed light on the world of South Korean entertainment’s “super fans,” who increasingly seek to control the private lives of their idols. This is not an isolated incident.
Just days prior, South Korean actors Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol also announced their separation, mere weeks after publicly acknowledging their relationship. The couple parted ways amidst backlash from fans, who criticized them for engaging in a “transit relationship,” pointing out that Ryu had recently ended a seven-year romance with his “Reply 1988” co-star, singer-actress Lee Hyeri.
Han, who most recently starred in the Netflix period thriller Gyeongseong Creature, took to Instagram last Friday with a lengthy and emotional message disputing the allegations. “Any more of these groundless speculations and it will really wear me out,” she wrote in the post, which has since been deleted.
After the split, Han’s agency 9ATO Entertainment said: “The two both found their roles as actors to be more important. They promised to no longer be emotionally exhausted with their personal life.”
Last October, Blackpink singer Jisoo and actor Ahn Bo-hyun ended their relationship just two months after they said they were dating.