Why K-pop star apologized to fans after discovering boyfriend

K-pop star Karina has issued an apology after angry fans accused her of “cheating” – because they discovered she has a boyfriend.

They protested with a truck in front of the artist’s agency after discovering that she was in a relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook.

“Isn’t the love given to you by your fans enough?” an electronic panel in the vehicle asked.

In a letter shared on Instagram, the lead singer of the South Korean band Aespa promised to “heal the wounds” she inflicted.

“I apologize for surprising you so much,” the 23-year-old wrote, promising to show a “more mature and diligent side” in the future.

The singer, whose real name is Yu Ji-min, has been the leader of the girl band Aespa -formed by four women- since her debut in 2020, with the single Black Mamba. Last year, the band’s album My World sold 2.1 million copies in South Korea.

But this is not an isolated incident. Pop stars from South Korea and Japan work in notoriously high-pressure industries — where personal revelations can be tricky.

Just a decade ago, it was common practice for K-pop agencies to ban new stars from dating or even having a personal cell phone — and even now being in a romantic relationship is often considered a scandal to fans.

In August last year, the BBC reported how Blackpink singer Jisoo’s relationship with actor Ahn Bo-hyun shook the world of K-pop. Some experts told the BBC at the time that pop stars’ agencies seek to sell them as “romantically attainable” idols.

In Japan, many pop stars are subject to “no dating” clauses in their contracts, and getting married requires permission.

News of Karina’s relationship first became public on February 27. The singer and Lee, 25, later confirmed that the two had met last year.

Lee’s agency, C-JeS Studio, asked for “affectionate respect… as this involves his private life.”

But some of Karina’s fans went to the headquarters of SM Entertainment, the company that formed and manages Aespa, to protest. Using trucks has become a common practice used by K-pop fans lately to show support or displeasure.

“Is the love given to you by the fans not enough? Why did you choose to betray the fans? Please apologize directly. Otherwise, you will see a decrease in album sales and empty seats at concerts,” one of the messages read displayed on the truck’s electronic panel.

However, not all fans were dissatisfied with the singer’s relationship with Lee, who debuted in the Korean series “Memories of the Alhambra” in 2018 and rose to prominence after starring in the fantasy drama “Alchemy of Souls”.

“You don’t have to apologize for your feelings. I will always root for your happiness. You deserve all the love, support, all the good things,” one wrote.

This text was originally published here.