[UPDATE: 12.50PM]
Lee Jae-wook's agency C-JeS Studio and Karina's agency SM Entertainment have both confirmed that they are dating, stating: "They are getting to know each other."
C-JeS Studio added: "We ask you to look upon them fondly and treat them with respect."
They didn't reveal a celebrity couple over New Year 2024, but South Korean paparazzi-style media publication Dispatch has finally delivered.
This morning (Feb 27), they reported that rising actor Lee Jae-wook, 25, and K-pop idol Karina, 23, from Aespa are dating.
They both attended Prada's Fall/Winter 2024 fashion show at the Milan Fashion Week on Jan 14 and their relationship reportedly began there.
@i_d Omg omg omg #JAEWOOKxPRADA #PradaFW24 #LeeJaeWook #KARINAxPradaFW24 #Prada #KARINA ♬ original sound - i-D
"I think it's fair to say it was love at first sight," an insider told Dispatch. "They fell in love from the moment they met at the fashion show."
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The couple was reportedly able to spend time with each other in Milan and Seoul despite their busy schedules, and despite Karina still living in a dorm with the other Aespa members.
Photos from Dispatch also show Karina in Jae-wook's neighbourhood. They reportedly spent time together walking around a park late at night.
Jae-wook's agency C-JeS Studio and Karina's label SM Entertainment both responded to the media stating that they will need to verify the report.
Aespa is a fourth-generation K-pop girl group that made its debut on Nov 20, 2020, with Karina as its leader.
She is also a member of the SM Entertainment supergroup Got the Beat with soloist BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon from Girls' Generation, Wendy and Seulgi from Red Velvet and fellow Aespa member Winter.
Jae-wook made his acting debut in 2018 K-drama Memories of the Alhambra and rose to prominence with his lead role in Alchemy of Souls (2022) and its sequel Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow.
His latest project is the Disney+ K-drama The Impossible Heir.
@peaches411_ Lee Jaewook taking care of Karina at the Prada event. Udh akrab aj berdua nih kalau 🫠 #aespa #karina #leejaewook #pradafw24 #karinaxpradafw24 #milanfashionweek #에스파카리나 #이재욱 #kpop #fyp ♬ RM All Night Verse - namjooner
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drimac@asiaone.com