​Celebrity romances can hurt image, work

The Straits Times, page D5

The fates of popular South Korean pop music stars HyunA and E'Dawn, who were kicked out of their management company Cube Entertainment two weeks ago only to have their expulsion retracted hours later, still hang in the balance. The question remains: Is it that big a deal for pop stars to be romantically involved? NTU Asst Prof Liew Kai Khiun, who has research interests in pop culture said, "K-pop idols are catered to youthful teenage audiences with fantasies of virginal stars untainted by 'relationships'. Within this logic, real-life romances and sexual relations dispel such images of youth and innocence." Then, there is also the ultimate fan fantasy of being able to date their favourite idols themselves.