Actor Lee Jae Wook is currently facing criticism after mentioning his past relationship with aespa’s Karina during a recent interview.
The actor, who is promoting his latest project Dear Hongrang, was asked about the dating rumors that surfaced while he was filming The Impossible Heir in 2024.
Lee Jae Wook briefly addressed the topic, sharing that it didn’t impact his focus on his work but was careful not to delve into personal details.
Lee Jae Wook and Karina confirmed their relationship in February 2024, which lasted only a few weeks before both agencies confirmed their breakup.
The relationship made headlines when Dispatch reported sightings of the couple going on late-night walks in Lee Jae Wook’s neighborhood.
However, the relationship ended quickly, and Karina even issued a public apology on Instagram following their split.
Lee Jae Wook and aespa’s Karina (Credit: YouTube)
Despite the brief nature of the relationship, Lee Jae Wook’s mention of it in the interview has sparked a backlash.
Fans of Karina, who have seen her move past the situation, expressed their frustration online.
Many believe that the actor is unnecessarily name-dropping Karina to generate publicity for his new projects.
Some fans criticized him for bringing up a topic that Karina has since chosen not to revisit, particularly since she had apologized and worked hard to move on.
One fan shared their frustration on Twitter, saying,
“He keeps allowing questions about it, still milking the clout he got from that whole mess while K has moved on completely.” Another user tweeted, “It’s been more than a year now, and if this shows anything, it’s that he didn’t care about anything other than money and a good image.”
The controversy has led fans to accuse Lee Jae Wook of being unprofessional and using his past relationship for personal gain, with many urging him to stop mentioning Karina altogether.
Fans of the idol also expressed their disappointment, claiming that despite his efforts to mention her name, it hasn’t helped his popularity.
The situation has become a topic of heated discussion, with some urging both Lee Jae Wook and the public to move on from the past and focus on his career.
Actress Go Youn Jung recently spoke out about the unexpected buzz surrounding her on-screen chemistry with co-star Jung Joon Won in the popular drama Resident Playbook.
The two portray a couple, with Jung Joon Won playing Gu Do Won, who is both her boss and brother-in-law.
Their pairing quickly gained attention, surprising not just the audience, but the cast and crew as well.
In a candid interview, Go Youn Jung revealed,
“We didn’t expect to get this much attention. Even the director and writer didn’t see it coming. The actors were flustered too. In our group chat, the cast teased Joon Won oppa, asking, ‘How does it feel to be a superstar, future brother-in-law?’”
However, the unexpected popularity also sparked some controversy due to the 8-year age difference between the actors, as well as between their respective characters, Oh Yi Young and Gu Do Won.
Jung Joon Won, born in 1988, is eight years older than Go Youn Jung, who was born in 1996. Their characters also have a similar age gap, which raised concerns among the production team.
Despite the initial hesitation, Go Youn Jung shared that the age difference never became an issue while filming.
“We had some concerns because of the age gap, but seeing people say that Yi Young and Do Won made their hearts flutter, it was really rewarding,” she said. “Joon Won oppa is such a good actor. I found myself really inspired by his performances. He’s really funny on set and keeps things light with his jokes, which made everyone like him.”
Although she initially had doubts about how the romance would play out due to the age gap, Go Youn Jung found Jung Joon Won’s portrayal of the calm and upright character to be so compelling that each scene became something to look forward to.
Despite the on-screen chemistry, Go Youn Jung admitted that she has not kept in touch with Jung Joon Won after the show ended, and thus did not feel the full impact of the on-screen couple’s popularity.
The pairing’s age difference continues to be a point of discussion, but Go Youn Jung’s response highlights how the dynamics between the two actors helped elevate the romantic storyline in Resident Playbook, despite the controversy.
