On May 19, actor Lee Jae Wook had an interview with the Korean media to promote the newly released Netflix drama Dear Hognrang in which he starred.
Xports News reported that in February last year, the news of Lee Jae Wook and idol singer Karina (aespa) dating became a hot topic. At that time, the actor was filming the movie "Golden Nuot".
When asked if dating news affected his work, Lee Jae Wook replied, It didnt really affect my immersion in the role. But if I go into details, it can become too personal.
Although Lee Jae Wook replied briefly and quite cautiously, many Karina fans expressed disappointment and reacted strongly to the actor's sharing.
Karina's fans accused Lee Jae Wook of taking advantage of his ex-girlfriend's name to promote his film. They thought that the actor could completely refuse to answer the questions, but he still deliberately recalled their old relationship.
Meanwhile, Karina was criticized for dating Lee Jae Wook and she has never mentioned this issue since they broke up.
In fact, Lee Jae Wook's attitude has made Karina fans unhappy amid their dating scandal.
Dispatch first released evidence that Karina and Lee Jae Wook were dating at the end of February 2024.
The couple is said to be "love at first sight" after attending a Prada show in Italy in January of the same year. Karina's promotional schedule and Lee Jae Wook's filming schedule are both busy, but they still have time together in both Seoul and Milan.
After this news, a group of fans spoke out to criticize the aespa member. They said that Karina's dating was too early for a 4th generation female idol who had only been active for 3 years, not only affecting Karina herself but also affecting the entire aespa group.
Chinese fans even sent a truck to SM Entertainment headquarters to protest Karina's dating. They used harsh words, saying that Karina had "betrayed fans" and asked her to " beg for an immediate apology" or they would take action to affect the group's album and concert ticket sales.
Due to negative reactions, on March 5, Karina posted a handwritten letter apologizing to fans on her personal Instagram account.
While his girlfriend was under a lot of pressure, Lee Jae Wook did not seem to make any move. Previously, in the announcement confirming their relationship, the actor's company frankly asked the audience to respect his private life and not affect the filming process.
About 5 weeks after Dispatch's post, the couple announced their breakup. For the past year since then, Karina has focused on her music career, never mentioning her old relationship in promotional activities.
