Karina, a leading figure in the fourth-generation K-pop group aespa, took to Instagram on the evening of March 5 to issue a heartfelt handwritten apology to her fans, known as ‘MYs’, for the surprise caused by the recent revelation of her relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 7 (Korea Bizwire) – Karina, a leading figure in the fourth-generation K-pop group aespa, took to Instagram on the evening of March 5 to issue a heartfelt handwritten apology to her fans, known as ‘MYs’, for the surprise caused by the recent revelation of her relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook.
In her message, Karina expressed remorse for the disappointment and hurt her fans might have felt, acknowledging the strong bond and shared moments with her supporters.
“I am well aware of how disappointed MYs must have been and how our shared stories might have saddened them. Knowing their feelings makes me even more apologetic,” she wrote.
This episode is part of a broader phenomenon within the K-pop industry, where idols’ personal lives, especially their romantic relationships, can have significant implications not just for their image but also for their management companies and groups.
While young love is hardly objectionable, public relationships can sometimes negatively impact stock prices and sales figures for the companies involved.
What concerns agencies more than the fluctuating stock prices is the potential departure of consumers, namely the fanbase. (Photo: a screenshot of a post from an online community)
For instance, following the acknowledgment of Karina’s relationship with Lee Jae-wook on February 27, aespa’s management company, SM Entertainment, saw a 3.5% drop in its stock price, erasing approximately 66.7 billion won in market value in just one day.
Given aespa and Karina’s prominence within SM, the market and public reaction was notably significant.
Past instances in the K-pop industry have shown similar trends, with companies like JYP, Cube, and Loen (formerly a publicly traded company) experiencing stock price dips following relationship reveals of their major artists.
However, what concerns agencies more than the fluctuating stock prices is the potential departure of consumers, namely the fanbase.
A representative from a popular girl group’s agency shared, “Fans say it’s okay for idols to date as long as it doesn’t become public. Once a relationship is revealed, it can significantly impact album sales, particularly with the Chinese market, which is very sensitive to such news.”
In the wake of Karina’s relationship news, a ‘protest truck’ with messages demanding a direct apology appeared near SM Entertainment’s Seoul office, signaling the intense reactions from parts of the fanbase.
This isn’t an isolated incident; previously, another popular idol group saw an 11.9% decrease in first-week album sales coinciding with a relationship scandal involving one of its members, during a period when K-pop sales were otherwise booming.
Culture critic Jung Deok-hyun commented on the situation, saying, “Falling in love isn’t a crime, is it?” and added that there’s a need for a shift in public perception towards accepting idols’ relationships.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
