(From left) aespa’s Karina and South Korean actor-model Lee Jae-wook are confirmed to be in a relationship. Images: X/@aespa_official
South Korean actor-model Lee Jae-wook — who’s best known for his lead role in “Alchemy of Souls” — and aespa’s Karina are in a relationship, as confirmed by their respective agencies.
Reports of Karina and Lee’s romance started when Korean media outlet Dispatch released photos of them meeting up in the actor’s neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 27. They would reportedly meet up at night as the K-pop idol is still living in aespa’s dorm with her bandmates.
Dispatch also reported they “fell in love at first sight” after crossing paths at the Prada show at Milan Fashion Week in January 2024.
Jaewook and Karina front row at Prada FW24 show 😍#JAEWOOKxPRADA#PradaFW24 #LeeJaeWook #KARINAxPradaFW24 #PradaFW24 #KARINA #카리나 pic.twitter.com/qpPNtHDO4C
— i-D (@i_D) January 14, 2024
Hours after the reports came out, Karina’s label SM Entertainment and Lee’s agency C-JeS Studios confirmed in separate statements they are “getting to know each other” while requesting the public to respect their personal life.
“The two are currently in the process of getting to know each other. As this concerns the actor’s personal life, we kindly request that you regard it with warmth and respect while he continues his filming commitments,” C-Jes said, per Korean media outlet Sports Chosun.
Meanwhile, SM likewise said the aespa member and Lee Jae-wook are “getting to know each other.”
Both agencies, however, remained mum on how Karina and Lee’s relationship started, as of this writing.
Born as Yu Ji-min, Karina debuted as the leader, main dancer, lead rapper, and vocalist of aespa in November 2020. She is also part of the GOT The Beat, which is the first lineup of SM’s female group Girls on Top.
The quartet — also consisting of Winter, Giselle, and Ningning — is best known for their hit songs “Next Level,” “Black Mamba,” “Spicy,” “Savage,” and “Drama,” just to name a few.
Lee, on the other hand, made his acting debut in 2018 by taking on supporting roles until he eventually moved to leading man status. He is best known for his performances in “Alchemy of Souls” and “Extraordinary You.”