As aespa gears up for their highly anticipated June comeback, Karina is once again addressing fans after a political controversy put her in a bad spot. On June 12, she took to Bubble to share her emotions, apologize, and thank fans for sticking with her through the storm. The controversy originally sparked in late May after Karina posted a seemingly innocent selfie in a red jacket with the number 2 and a rose emoji, which some interpreted as political symbolism tied to South Korea’s upcoming election.
karina’s bubble!!
🤍 yn!! i know you've been waiting for a long time right. since you waited, i practiced and prepared really hard. i'm really sorry and thankful for making you worry all this time. are you doing well??
🤍 i miss you a lot too pic.twitter.com/JOAuIMQav4— naz༉ (@aekvrna) June 9, 2025
The idol admitted it’s been a tough time, thanked fans for waiting, and emphasized how hard she’s been working for the group’s comeback. “I practiced and prepared really hard to meet your expectations. I’m so sorry and thankful for making you worry,” she wrote. However, reactions online were mixed. While many praised her honesty, others couldn’t shake concerns, especially since certain phrases she used reminded some of language popular on far-right forums.
Aespa's Karina is facing backlash from netizens for wearing the colors associated with a conservative political party and including the party's number and emoji in her Instagram caption.
For international fans this is equivalent of being a trumpie pic.twitter.com/T2p7hOKlhy
— Flop Kpop (@TheFlopKpop) May 28, 2025
SM Entertainment and Karina have denied any political intent, but the internet remains divided. With aespa’s “Dirty Work” comeback approaching on June 27, all eyes are on Karina to see how the group navigates both their return and this controversy.
