aespa member Karina and actor Lee Jae Wook have officially parted ways | More details here

aespa member Karina and actor Lee Jae Wook have officially ended their relationship. The couple, who faced controversy with a 'dating apology,' split five weeks after going public. The breakup was reportedly due to the mental strain from hate comments.

Lee Jae Wook's agency, C-JeS Studios, confirmed the news, stating that he decided to focus on his work.

In a statement to SPOTV, the agency said, ‘Actor Lee Jae Wook decided to end the relationship in order to focus on his work that he is currently filming. The two will remain good colleagues and support one another.’

The statement further added, ‘They will greet their fans with good activities through their respective avenues in the future. Please show your interest and support.’

South Korean media Dispatch exposed the couple's relationship on February 27, a report swiftly confirmed by both stars' agencies. The report cited excessive mental stress from hate comments as the reason for Karina and Lee Jae Wook's breakup. They also felt remorseful for their fans entangled in the drama. Karina had previously penned an apology to her 'unhappy' fans who launched a boycott trend after the dating news broke.

Karina and Lee Jae Wook's dating timeline

The two A-listers reportedly grew closer after attending a fashion show together in Milan in January. Despite no dating rumors circulating initially, their dating timeline shows they continued to meet after returning to Seoul, South Korea.

The split report follows another A-lister breakup, as ‘My Name’ star Han So Hee and ‘Reply 1988's Ryu Jun Yeol ended their relationship after facing backlash from fans accusing them of 'transit love.' Ryu Jun Yeol was previously in an 8-year relationship with actress Hyeri, which ended in 2023.

Also Watch | Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani to collaborate with Karan Johar? Duo visits filmmaker’s residence