K-pop group Aespa’s Karina, actor Lee Jae-wook break up after 5 weeks

Another Korean star couple broke up after Ryu Jun-yeol and Han So-hee whose  tumultuous relationship ended after two weeks. 

K-pop girl group Aespa member Karina, 23, and actor Lee Jae-wook, 25, have broken up after five weeks of public dating. 

Last Feb. 27, Korean media outlet Dispatch published an exclusive report along with photos stating that Karina and Lee Jae-wook were dating. 

Actor Lee Jae-wook and Aespa'a Karina at the Prada FW24 Menswear Show in Milan, Italy in January (Prada, online community)

Actor Lee Jae-wook and Aespa'a Karina  (Prada, Instagram)

Ryu Jun-yeol  and Han So-hee broke up after two weeks of public dating (Instagram, 9Ato Entertainment)

The two stars attended the Prada FW24 Menswear Show in Milan, Italy in January, and have been seeing each other. 

After the report, Karina and Lee Jae-wook confirmed they were dating through their agencies with SM Entertainment saying, "They are now getting to know each other."

However, the two have decided to part ways. On April 2, C-JeS Studio, Lee Jae-wook’s agency, said the actor want to focus on his acting project. 

“Actor Lee Jae-wook decided to break up [with Karina] in order to focus on the work he is currently filming. The two remain colleagues who support and cheer each other,” said C-JeS Studio, Korean media reported. 

Karina's agency, SM Entertainment, also released a brief statement, saying, "It's true."

Their relationship did not sit well with some fans. Some Chinese fans even sent a protest truck outside SM Entertainment’s building. They demanded Karina to apologize for her relationship, threatening that if she didn’t do it, she would see empty seats in Aespa concerts and decrease in album sales. 

In her apology, Karina said, “First of all, I’m sorry for surprising you so much, and I’m late because I’m cautious about MYs [Aespa fans] who must have been very surprised.”

“I know how disappointed MYs, who have supported me, must have been and how upset they are when they think about the stories we shared together. I feel even more sorry because I know how they feel,” she said. 

She added, “I am writing this letter in the hope that this feeling will be conveyed even a little. The reason I am writing this despite the worry that this might hurt again is because I wanted to convey my sincere apologies to the fans who have given me the warmest winter since the moment I debuted.”

“I want to make up for the hurt MYs have suffered. I have always been sincere to them, and each and every one of them is very precious to me. This may be a short post to express all of my feelings, but thank you for reading. I want to show you that I will be more mature and work harder in the future without disappointing MYs. Please keep watching,” she said.  

Lee Jae-wook also faced criticisms, resulting in his agency issuing a warning against netizens who defamed and insulted him.