The breakup of K-pop girl group Aespa’s member Karina and South Korean actor Lee Jae-wook has caught the attention of international media.

The United States media outlet CNN reported on April 3 under the headline “K-pop star ends relationship weeks after it sparked a fan backlash,” covering the end of their relationship.

Karina and Lee had announced their breakup through their respective agencies on April 2, just five weeks after confirming their relationship at the end of February.

Regarding the split, CNN reported, “After apologizing last month for a new relationship that angered some particularly fervent fans, K-pop star Karina is once again single, highlighting the longstanding challenges of dating within the fervent fan space of Korean entertainment.”

The media outlet referred to their relationship as “a rare instance” where K-pop singers date publicly, facing “heavy scrutiny and pressure from some fans.” It critiqued the entertainment industry’s practices, noting that past public relationships among K-pop stars “have faced significant public backlash, sometimes impacting their professional careers and contracts.” Consequently, “record labels have long imposed strict rules on their stars, limiting their ability to date publicly and promoting the fantasy of celebrities,” it said.

Shortly after going public with her relationship with Lee, Karina faced criticism from some fans, with even threats like, “If you don’t apologize, you’ll be performing to empty concert seats.”

The singer posted a handwritten apology on her social media. “I am well aware of how disappointed MYs (Aespa’s fan club) must be, thinking about the stories we’ve shared and feeling sad,” she wrote. “I want to show a more mature and hardworking side in the future without disappointing MYs. Please watch over me. I’m sorry and very grateful.”

The British public broadcaster BBC also noted, “Pop stars in South Korea work in notoriously pressurizing industries.” With CNN shedding light on the relationship between Karina and Lee, the intense loyalty demanded by fandoms and the demands for privacy management toward “K-pop stars” have garnered attention.

This article was originally published on April 4, 2024.