‘Dear Hongrang’ Actor Lee Jae-wook Reflects on Dating aespa's Karina and Shares His Take on Marriage

Lee Jae-wook, the star of 'Dear Hongrang', opened up about his past relationship with Karina and shared his thoughts on marriage.

Lee Jae-wook reflects on personal topics during press interview. On May 19, Lee Jae-wook sat down for a media interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to talk about his latest Netflix drama, 'Dear Hongrang'. During the session, he addressed everything from past dating with aespa’s Karina to his views on marriage.

According to News1, Lee was asked how he handled the situation when his relationship with Karina became public while filming the drama. He replied carefully, “The dating news didn’t really affect my focus on acting. But if I go too deep into it, it could get too personal, so I’d prefer if we stick to questions about Hongrang.”

Back in 2024, Lee and Karina first met at a luxury fashion show in Milan. Shortly after, dating rumors surfaced, and the two confirmed they were in a relationship. However, they announced their breakup just five weeks later.

When asked about his co-star Cho Bo-ah, who recently tied the knot, Lee opened up about his own views on marriage. “I talked about this once on a variety show—I’ve always had this romantic idea of what marriage should be,” he shared. “Maybe it’s because I grew up missing that sense of family. So yes, I definitely want to get married someday. I’m not sure when exactly, but I know it’s something I want in the future.”

Lee also revealed that he underwent a strict physical transformation for 'Dear Hongrang', focusing intensely on action scenes and bringing his body fat percentage down to around 5–6%. He said the role pushed him both physically and emotionally, setting it apart from his previous work.

The story follows Hongrang (played by Lee Jae-wook), the long-lost son of Joseon’s largest merchant group, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. Only his half-sister Jae-yi (played by Cho Bo-ah) suspects something is off. As tension grows between them, an unexpected emotional connection begins to form.

Lee’s character, Hongrang, may look, speak, and act exactly like the real son of the merchant group, but doubts linger—especially for Jae-yi, who is convinced he’s an imposter. The drama explores mystery, identity, and forbidden feelings in a historical melodrama setting.

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