Love was in the air—and then it wasn’t—for Korean entertainment’s biggest stars in 2024, as the industry witnessed some of its most dramatic relationship sagas yet.
SM Entertainment’s rising idol Karina and heartthrob actor Lee Jae Wook‘s romance began at Milan Fashion Week on January 14th. Their unexpected coupling sent fans into a frenzy when media outlets confirmed their relationship on February 27th. In an industry where idol relationships often spark controversy, Karina took to social media a week later with a heartfelt handwritten letter apologizing to fans. However, their whirlwind romance proved short-lived, ending just five weeks after going public.
The industry was then rocked by the controversy involving Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol. The drama unfolded in March when the pair were spotted in Hawaii together. The plot thickened when Ryu’s ex-girlfriend, Hyeri—who had announced their breakup just four months prior in November—cryptically posted “This is interesting” on her Instagram. Han So Hee fired back with her own post, “I find it interesting too,” escalating the situation into a full-blown media circus. The controversy forced all three stars to issue public apologies, with Han and Ryu announcing their split merely two weeks after confirming their relationship.
One of the industry’s most enduring couples, Lee Dong Hwi and Jung Ho Yeon, called it quits after nine years together. The pair, who had been dating since 2015 and went public in 2016, had maintained a low-key relationship, occasionally sharing glimpses of their life together on social media and their variety show appearances. Their split particularly shocked fans given their long-standing status as one of entertainment’s most stable couples. Notably, both stars have kept their past social media posts about each other intact post-breakup.
The year’s most controversial relationship revelation came when Moon Gabi announced the birth of her child via Instagram on November 22nd. The story took an unexpected turn when Jung Woo Sung was revealed to be the father. The pair reportedly first met at a gathering in 2022, though their dating status remained unconfirmed. Moon gave birth in March 2024. Jung later confirmed paternity through testing and personally chose the child’s nickname. His decision to commit to child-rearing responsibilities without marriage sparked heated debates among netizens.
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