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Seoul, South Korea
cnn
—
Are K-pop stars allowed to love?
The answer remains a resounding “no” in some quarters: K-pop singer Karina of the group Aespa posted a handwritten apology online after their alleged relationship sparked an outcry from many of her most ardent fans.
News of her relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook broke last week, confirmed by both stars’ agencies.
The response from fans across Asia was swift and mixed, with some expressing their support for the couple. But many others reacted with surprise and fury.
Some outraged fans even sent a truck with an electronic billboard to the headquarters of Karina’s agency, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, which published a photo of the billboard. “Don’t you get enough love from your fans?” she read her. “Why did you decide to betray your fans?”
“Please apologize directly. Otherwise, we will see a drop in album sales and empty seats for concerts,” he added.
On Wednesday, Karina apologized profusely in a handwritten letter she posted on Instagram, where she has 12.7 million followers.
“I know very well how disappointed (my fans) are that they have supported me and how upset they are thinking about the memories we shared together,” he wrote. “I want to compensate my injured fans from now on. I have always been sincere with you and yet each and every one of you is truly valuable to me.”
She expressed her “sincere apologies” to those who supported her throughout her career and promised to “show more maturity and work harder for everyone (my fans) without disappointment.”
In many places around the world, the announcement that a young pop star and an actor have become a couple would be little more than a quick celebrity headline.
But in South Korea – and to some extent in Japan – it can still be taboo in a culture where fans idolize their stars and record labels like to promote the fantasy of accessible, single celebrities.
Most K-pop stars live by strict rules, and they rarely date publicly, as record labels fear that any relationship will cause the stars to lose their mystique among fans.
And record labels have reason to worry, as in previous cases angry fans have turned on artists who publicize their relationships.
In 2018, when artists Hyuna and E-Dawn began dating, their record label Cube Entertainment saw its stock drop several points. Both artists were suspended by Cube, under which they had been performing together as part of the ensemble. Triple H.
Experts previously told CNN that the phenomenon is partly because the K-pop industry is built around fervent fan bases, with many going to great lengths to promote their favorite groups.
Fans commonly make charitable donations on behalf of celebrities to improve their public image, or pay for independent advertisements promoting tours or new albums.
But this extreme loyalty also means that artists and agencies are closely tied to fans’ demands and desires, increasing the pressure on K-pop stars under intense scrutiny.
There have been signs of change in recent years, with agencies moving away from controversial contract terms.
While it is still rare for agencies to announce K-pop idols’ romantic relationships, there have been more cases lately; Notably, the agencies of Blackpink singer Jisoo and actor Ahn Bo-hyun confirmed last year that they were dating.
Even fans have begun urging each other to allow the stars more privacy and the chance to live their lives. Following Karina’s apology post on Wednesday, the comments section was flooded with fans speaking out in support.
“No idol (K-pop stars) should apologize for dating in 2024,” read one of the top comments. Another user wrote: “Apologize for loving someone? “You don’t need to do this.”
The news also caused a sensation on Chinese social networks. Aespa has a sizable Chinese fan base, in part because one of the group’s members is Chinese. And while there were also messages of support there, there were many dissatisfied fans who were not satisfied with Karina’s apology.
“If she really appreciated (her fans), she wouldn’t have fallen in love in the first place,” wrote one user on the Chinese Twitter-like platform Weibo. “His apology from her is far from sincere and is simply a face-saving tactic. She just shows that she is afraid of losing fans and money. “
Other fans pointed out that Karina’s apology did not mention their relationship status, speculating that it was simply confirmation that they were still dating.
“What fans really want to know about her is that she has broken up and is not in contact with the guy,” wrote one Weibo user.
Another declared: “How can she seem so unencumbered and carefree after all this? Happily in love while hanging fans to dry, as if nothing had happened. She can’t have it both ways.”