Female Idols Secretly Date Each Other While in the Same Group — Where Are They Now?

While K-Pop idols often date, sometimes even openly, it is rarer for it to become public knowledge that members of the same group have dated each other.

K-Pop Idols Dating Within Their Own Group Is So Rare — It’s Only Happened 3 Times

One set of female idols that debuted in the same group were in a relationship together for part of that time!

With the creation of AKB48, many branches and spin-off groups eventually followed. This includes the Manila-based MNL48, which was introduced in April 2018. 

MNL48 | Pinterest

Like AKB48, MNL48 also featured a graduation system with rotating members and teams to which members were promoted and moved, including Team NIV.

Members Belle and Ecka were first-generation members placed on Team NIV and remained with MNL48 until November and September 2020, respectively.

Belle | MNL48

Ecka | MNL48

It isn’t exactly clear when the pair “hard launched” but on Valentine’s Day in 2022, the pair opened a couple’s account. This came after posts on Ecka’s account throughout 2021 showing the pair together, and fans having an idea for a while.

Another post made by Belle gives a more exact date of their relationship beginning. In a post of the two, the caption mentions they have been together for 62 months, which going back from when the post was made, would mean their relationship began on March 2, 2019, well before their departure from the group.

These days, the pair are still together, and are working in the industry still, though they are no longer “idols.”