It is no surprise that celebrities prefer to keep their romantic relationships a secret – they know their every move will be scrutinised, analysed and picked apart by millions. This applies especially to K-pop stars with strong, protective fan bases.
Jisoo, 28, and Ahn, 35, are no exception.
Ranked: the 15 best K-drama OSTs you should add to your playlist
Ranked: the 15 best K-drama OSTs you should add to your playlist
Korean media and fans of Jisoo began digging into Ahn’s past, passing judgment on his character based on the YouTube channels he subscribed to and past footage of him.
“After seeing [the photo], he became an unlikeable person for me,” said X user @idam_next. “I don’t know why Jisoo, the most beautiful woman on Earth with a good personality, would meet such a man.”
“V-Jennie look good together, but for f***’s sake, Jisoo,” @777777iiio posted on X, “Ahn is the wrong answer.”
Charles Cheung Chi-wai, an associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Creative Writing at Hong Kong Baptist University, attributes critical online culture to social shifts that have changed the way fans perceive and interact with their idols.
“Celebrities are attached to the modern media system,” says Cheung, who researches popular culture and media power. “They’re selling their entire image – not just their talent. And relationships are a very important component of that.”
People have no right to educate me on my private life
Social media has also opened up the possibility for fans of being able to interact with their favourite stars, as well as other passionate fans; Cheung says this amplifies the emotions that people feel.
Combine this with the trend of divorce becoming more common than marriage, he adds, and you get fans who want to involve themselves in celebrity relationships and share their two cents’ worth.
“People focus more on who is a better husband,” Cheung says, “who is a better wife, who will commit infidelity.”
Internationally, internet users have been openly critical of Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber’s relationship with model Hailey Bieber. The pair tied the knot in 2018; five years later, their social media is still filled with hate comments.
“Literally get a divorce,” user @kyliesucxss commented on Hailey Bieber’s recent Instagram post. “He doesn’t love you let alone like [you].”
British actress Florence Pugh is one of many stars who have been vocal about the public’s treatment of her relationships.
“Within about eight minutes of the photo being posted, I had about 70 per cent of the comments hurling abuse, being horrid, and basically bullying someone on my page,” Pugh said in an Instagram video following a birthday post she made for then-boyfriend Zach Braff.
The two have a 21-year age gap.
She told Harper’s Bazaar that the criticism is why she and Braff kept their break-up secret.
“People need to realise that it’s hurtful,” the 27-year-old actress said in another interview. “People have no right to educate me on my private life.”
According to Cheung, fans’ criticisms of celebrity relationships – grounded in “emotional, irrational responses” – are largely unavoidable so long as social media exists. They are part of a larger phenomenon relating to all social media usage, not just in regard to celebrities, he says.
“Unless you eradicate social media, it will be like that,” Cheung says. “So the solution can only be left to the public, to the fans themselves. Try to think before you respond.”
It is undeniable that celebrity dating is hard. The challenge of going public is even greater in the K-pop industry specifically, where the practice of having contracts forbidding idols from dating other celebrities still lingers.
For now, most fans seem to be overjoyed by Jisoo and Ahn’s relationship – but whether the pair can withstand the pressure that comes with their celebrity status is still to be seen.