aespa’s Karina breaks silence on political backlash: Never imagined it would become this serious...

aespa's Karina on wearing red jacket

Aespa's Karina has finally responded to the controversy that started earlier this summer when an Instagram post caused unanticipated political outrage, following months of public outcry.

Many people believed the singer was subtly supporting a right-wing candidate during South Korea's contentious election season because she posted a casual photo of herself wearing a red jacket with the number "2" on it.'

At the time, both Karina and her agency, SM Entertainment, swiftly issued statements denying any political intention behind the image. Nonetheless, the speculation persisted, with criticism continuing to circulate across social media platforms.

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— 풀팡 (@pulpang2) July 6, 2025

Now, appearing on a recent talk show, Karina has opened up more candidly, speaking about the emotional toll the incident took on her and those close to her.

Reflecting on the controversy, she shared, “It made me think deeply. It wasn’t just about me – the people around me were affected too. I just wanted everyone to be at peace and not have to go through such stress.”

She reiterated that her actions were never politically motivated. “There was truly no intention behind the photo. I had no idea it would be seen that way, and I felt a real need to explain myself again.” Karina admitted that despite the earlier clarification, fan concerns continued to weigh on her.

“I’m so sorry to our fans and to anyone who felt hurt. I never imagined it would become this serious. I feel responsible for the confusion and the upset it caused,” she added.

Karina went on to explain that she had picked up the jacket during a cold outing with her team, unaware of its political implications. She took a quick photo to share with fans, only to delete it shortly after being informed of the possible interpretation.

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“I didn’t know the number and colour could carry political meaning, especially at that time. I realise now how unaware I was. Even if I was abroad, it’s something I should have been mindful of,” she acknowledged.

She also expressed guilt over the impact the situation had on her fellow aespa members, saying it pained her to see them receive criticism for something entirely unrelated to them.