The realm of K-pop is a multifaceted environment where fans frequently establish profound emotional bonds with their beloved idols. These connections are upheld and fostered through a plethora of platforms, spanning from social media outlets to dedicated fan communities.
Nevertheless, the emergence of fan communication applications such as Bubble has revolutionized the interaction dynamics.
Fans now possess unparalleled access to their idols, able to subscribe for a monthly fee to partake in direct conversations, unlock exclusive content, and experience a heightened sense of intimacy with the idols they revere.
Karina, a member of aespa, grabbed attention with her revelation of being in a romantic relationship with actor Lee Jae Wook.
While numerous fans celebrated and expressed joy for Karina, others reacted differently. Some of her supporters voiced discontent on social media platforms, and a few even opted to unsubscribe from Karina’s Bubble monthly subscription service.
These fans started circulating screenshots demonstrating their decision to unsubscribe from Karina’s Bubble and voiced disappointment regarding her dating announcement.
They argued that it was premature for a K-pop idol who debuted just three years ago to enter into a romantic relationship.
Reactions Of The Fans
One fan wrote,
“My friends who are fans all say it’s okay, but I don’t think they’re okay. I subscribed to both Winter and Karina on August 1, 2022. At first, I subscribed when they first launched on May 6, 2021, but then I unsubscribed briefly in February 2022 because of issues in my current life. Either way, I’ve been subscribed to both Karina and Winter for 575 days on Bubble. But I’ve decided to keep only Winter’s.”
KWANGYA119 ignores the complaints and has zero lawsuits, but SM, which only focuses on things like this and says YES immediately, is too incompetent and useless. Dispatch, who are stalkers, should be taken down, and honestly, Karina should receive criticism for this incident.
She’s the leader and center position but wasn’t careful. It’s only been a little over three years and three months… What’s certain is that some of Karina’s fans will leave, and it looks like Winter will take center position for the regular comeback…”
Other fans got into a discussion about whether K-pop idols should be allowed to date. One fan claimed,
“Celebrities could date…” with others agreeing. However, another fan refuted this by saying, “The reason they shouldn’t get caught (dating) is not because of the fans but it can cause harm to the other team members.”
Another fan asserted that numerous others are also criticizing Karina on alternative social media platforms like social media platform X (formerly Twitter). They suggested that K-pop idols who aspire to sustain their fanbase while dating should transition into being artists rather than remaining as K-pop idols.
Korean netizens commented,
“I think celebrities are free to date and fans are free to leave the fandom.”
“Even from a non-Karina-fan perspective, I feel this every time: (celebrities who are caught dating) are treated worse and receive more curses than those who actually commit a crime… The atmosphere is really weird…”
“I understand that fan who unsubscribed.”
“Why are people saying that she’s causing harm to the members? It’s not like she committed some serious crime. She’s just dating.”
“Just be a fan and not delusional like you were dating her or something,” and “I get what fans feel. They’re just so disappointed.”
