On May 27, aespa member Karina sparked online discussion after uploading a series of photos to her personal social media account. The images, accompanied by a single red rose emoji, quickly drew attention and speculation.
In the photos, Karina was seen wearing a jacket that featured red accents and the number “2,” prompting some netizens to question whether the post was a subtle political statement in light of the approaching presidential election in South Korea. The timing and visual elements led to speculation that the post may have signaled support for a specific political party.
Soon after the controversy emerged, Karina deleted the photos. However, the debate surrounding her intent continued to gain traction online.
In response, SM Entertainment released an official statement on May 28 to address the growing concerns. The agency clarified that Karina’s post was not politically motivated and was simply a snapshot from her everyday life. Once she became aware of the potential misinterpretation, she took it down immediately.
SM Entertainment stated:
“We sincerely apologize for the concern caused by our artist Karina’s recent post. The photo was shared without any political intent. Upon realizing that it could be misunderstood, she deleted it.
We deeply regret any unintentional distress this may have caused and will take greater care moving forward to prevent similar issues. We kindly ask that our artist’s actions not be misread or misused in connection with political agendas.
SM Entertainment remains committed to protecting Karina and all of our artists.”
The agency’s statement aims to put an end to the controversy and reinforce its stance against politicization of its artists’ personal lives.
