Kumpirmadong hiwalay na ang aespa member na si Karina, 23, at K-drama actor na si Lee Jae Wook, 25.
Halos limang buwan pa lamang ang nakalilipas mula nang kumpirmahin sa publiko ng kinabibilangang agencies ni Karina na SM Entertainment at ni Lee Jae Wook na CJes Studios na may espesyal na relasyong namamagitan sa dalawang Korean stars.
Read: CONFIRMED: aespa Karina, actor Lee Jae Wook go on date
Nagsimulang paghinalaang hiwalay na sina Karina at Lee Jae Wook nang maglabas ng eksklusibong ulat ang South Korean website na TenAsia tungkol sa rason ng hiwalayan ng dalawa.
Ayon sa report, naghiwalay sina Karina at Lee Jae Wook dahil sa "emotional pain" buhat sa mga "malicious comment" na ibinabato sa kanila ng publiko matapos makumpirma ang kanilang relasyon.
Mabilis naglabas ng pahayag ang talent agency ni Lee Jae Wook na CJes Studios para sabihing totoong break na ang kanilang talent at si Karina.
Nagdesisyon daw na tapusin ng dalawa ang kanilang relasyon para makapag-focus sa kani-kanilang proyekto.
Gayunmpanan, patuloy pa rin nilang susuportahan ang isa't isa bilang magkatrabaho at kaibigan.
Mababasa sa kanilang pahayag (ayon sa English translation ng Soompi.com), "Lee Jae Wook decided on the breakup in order to focus on the project he is currently filming.
"The two decided to remain as colleagues who support each other.
"They will each greet [fans] through good activities from their respective positions going forward. Please show lots of warm interest and support."
Si Jae Wook ay nakilala sa mga K-drama series na Extraordinary You (2019) at Alchemy of Souls (2022).
Si Karina naman ay nag-debut sa aespa — kasama sina Winter, Giselle, at Ningning — noong November 2020.
Kilala ang aespa sa mga kanta nilang "Next Level," "Black Mamba," "Spicy," "Savage," at "Drama."
KARINA APOLOGIZES TO FANS
Bago ang kanilang hiwalayan, nag-post pa si Karina sa Instagram ng isang liham na naglalaman ng paghingi niya ng paumanhin sa mga tagahangang nabigla sa pagkakaroon niya ng special someone.
Sa Instagram post ni Karina noong March 5, sinabi nitong alam niyang may ilan siyang fans ang ngayong disappointed sa kanilang nalaman.
Hindi rin daw niya masisisi ang mga ito kung ganito ang kanilang nararamdaman.
Mababasa sa kanyang liham (ayon sa English translation ng Soompi.com): "Hello, this is Karina. First, I apologize for surprising you greatly, and I wound up [writing this] late because I feel very cautious towards the MYs [aespa’s fans] who must have been very surprised.
"I know very well how disappointed the MYs who have supported me up until now must be, and I also know that they are feeling upset while thinking back on the things we’ve said to one another. I feel even more sorry because I, too, understand those feelings all too well.
"I wound up writing this letter in the hopes of conveying my feelings even a little bit.
"Even though I’m worried that this [letter] may hurt [MYs] one more time, the reason I’m taking the risk and writing this is because I wanted to convey that I am sincerely sorry to the fans who gifted me with the warmest winter of my life from the moment I debuted."
Kalakip ng kanyang paumanhin ang pangako ni Karina na gagawin niya ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para tuluyang matanggap ng fans ang naging desisyon niya.
Saad niya, "Starting now, I want to do a good job filling the places where MYs have been wounded. I have always been sincere towards MYs, and even now, each and every one of you is truly precious to me.
"Although this letter may be too short to express all of my feelings, thank you for reading it. In the future, I want to show you a more mature side, without disappointing MYs, as I work even harder in my activities.
"MYs, please make sure to eat well, and let’s meet one another in good shape. I’m sorry, and I’m very grateful."
Read: aespa's Karina apologizes to fans after going public with actor Lee Jae Wook