Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- A South Korean online media outlet came under fire for alleged tabloid journalism, with fans demanding its shutdown for exposing the romance between boy band EXO's Kai and girl band BLACKPINK's Jennie.

Dispatch reported Tuesday that the 25-year-old EXO rapper and the 23-year-old BLACKPINK lead vocal were dating. Photographs showed them walking hand-in-hand at a park in Seoul in November last year.

Kai's agency, SM Entertainment, admitted that Kai and Jennie have good feelings, while YG Entertainment claimed it did not know about Jennie's relationship with Kai.

Angry fans filed public petitions on the presidential website, calling for the shutdown of Dispatch, which is known for exposing the private life of celebrities, for violating privacy. The website has become a place for active public debate since President Moon Jae-in, a former human rights lawyer, took office in March 2017.

"The privacy of people has been violated just because they are celebrities," a petitioner wrote, drawing support from 19,000 people. Dispatch has reported secret relations between dozens of celebrities such as actor Song Joong-ki and actress Song Hye-kyo.