aespa’s Karina just got real about one of K-pop’s toughest truths: female idols often face short careers. In Netflix’s new documentary “Lee Soo Man: King of K-pop,” released May 13, Karina opened up about her fears for aespa’s future, sparking big conversations about women in the South Korean entertainment industry.
Karina didn’t hold back. She said, “Because female idols don’t have long careers, I think about how to prolong it.” Her honesty hit hard in an industry that rarely addresses these concerns out loud. While she said aespa’s members are committed for the long run, Karina knows society changes—and idols have to keep evolving or risk fading out.
💙: Honestly female idols don't have long careers. Our members will always be here but society keeps changing. So we think about how we can adapt
Karina talking about how women tend to have shorter career in the industry. Female idols really have it hard😭 pic.twitter.com/bgkrzrU05D
— Karina♡ (@ujiminphoria) May 13, 2025
She admitted she doesn’t have all the answers yet, but she’s definitely thinking about them. Fans praised her bravery for putting a spotlight on the pressure female artists face just to stay relevant. Karina’s words were both personal and universal for girl groups navigating fame, trends, and societal changes. Kudos to her for starting a conversation that needs to be had.
