K-pop sensation Karina, a member of the girl group aespa, found herself at the center of a political misunderstanding after a recent Instagram post sparked speculation among netizens. The post, which featured Karina in a jacket with red accents and the number “2” alongside a red rose emoji, led some on social media to question if the singer was subtly endorsing a political party ahead of South Korea’s upcoming presidential election.
Karina soon deleted the photos, but not before the post triggered a flurry of online debate.
Responding to the backlash, SM Entertainment, aespa’s managing agency, issued a public clarification and apology. In a statement shared by Korean entertainment outlet Soompi, the company explained that Karina had no political intent behind the post.
“This is SM Entertainment. We apologise for causing concern due to our artist Karina’s recent post,” the statement read. “Karina simply shared something from her daily life on social media, with absolutely no other intention or purpose. Once she realised that the post could be misunderstood, she immediately deleted it. We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused unintentionally.”
The agency further assured fans that steps would be taken to avoid similar issues in the future. “Our agency will also be more careful and make greater efforts to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We hope that our artist’s intentions will no longer be misrepresented or consumed with a particular agenda, and we will do our utmost to protect Karina and all of our artists,” the statement added.
Karina, who recently made headlines for her breakup with actor Lee Jae Wook due to mental strain, is part of the four-member group aespa, which debuted in 2020. The group includes members Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. Since their debut with “Black Mamba,” aespa has released multiple chart-topping singles and albums, including their latest full-length album, Armageddon, in 2024.
Despite the temporary controversy, fans continue to show support for Karina, hoping that she can focus on her music and career without further misinterpretations clouding her public image.
Sources By Agencies
