As aespa gears up for their much-anticipated June comeback, member Karina has once again addressed fans directly through the fan platform Bubble. Her message comes after a recent political controversy that stirred public debate, marking her second time speaking out personally since the incident first emerged in late May. In her note, Karina expressed sincere gratitude toward fans for their patience and offered an apology for the concern she had caused during her silence.
She reassured fans that she had been working hard in preparation for aespa’s return, stating that she missed connecting with them deeply. She added that she practiced diligently to meet expectations, emphasizing how touched she was by the support she continued to receive. Her words reflected a genuine desire to rebuild the bond with her fandom and return to stage activities with a renewed sense of purpose.
Public response to her message was mixed. Many fans praised Karina’s courage for addressing the matter once again and welcomed her heartfelt words. They viewed her outreach as an act of accountability and care. However, others remained critical, expressing that they still felt uneasy about the controversy. Some netizens pointed out that certain phrases in her message echoed language used on Ilbe, a far-right forum in South Korea, raising concerns about unintentional but provocative word choices.
The original controversy began on May 27, when Karina posted a photo of herself in a red jacket marked with the number 2 and captioned it with a rose emoji. These seemingly harmless details were quickly interpreted by some as political symbolism connected to an upcoming election. The color red, number 2, and the rose all align with identifiers of a particular political party, which led to speculation about her intent. Karina swiftly deleted the post after it began attracting attention and causing confusion online.
In response, both Karina and her agency, SM Entertainment, released clarifications. Karina directly denied any political motives and conveyed her regret over the misunderstanding. SM Entertainment echoed her statement, confirming that there was no intentional political messaging involved in the post. Despite their explanations, public opinion remains divided, with support and skepticism continuing to coexist.
As aespa’s comeback approaches, Karina’s focus appears to be on reconnecting with fans and moving forward with positive energy. Her message, filled with warmth and sincerity, has resonated with many, even amid the lingering controversy. With the group’s return imminent, fans are hopeful that attention will soon shift back to Karina’s artistry and aespa’s music.
