aespa’s Karina Under Fire for Instagram Post During Election Season; SM Entertainment Issues Statement

Karina, a prominent member of the K-pop sensation aespa, has stirred considerable debate following an Instagram post that some netizens perceived as a veiled political statement ahead of the upcoming South Korean presidential election.

The controversy originated from a photo she shared on May 27, where she donned a striking black jacket adorned with red patterns featuring the noticeable number “2.”Many fans speculated that this outfit might violate the unofficial K-pop idol code of “no color, no gesture”during election seasons. To add fuel to the fire, she included a red rose emoji in her caption, leading to heightened speculation. The photograph was reportedly taken during her travels in Japan.

Online reactions were swift, with users coining phrases like “Conservative Karina, ””No.2 Voter Karina, ”and “Patriotic Karina.”These nicknames resonate with conservative voter sentiments in South Korea, where red represents the People Power Party—whose presidential candidate appears as No.2 on the ballot.

According to a report by Korea Joong Ang Daily, the post was soon removed, yet the backlash persisted. Critics have questioned Karina’s awareness and sensitivity, particularly during such a politically charged time.

Guidelines for Idols During Election Periods

During elections, K-pop idols are typically expected to adhere to unspoken guidelines that discourage them from sporting colors associated with political parties—like red, blue, yellow, and green. Additionally, they are urged to avoid gestures like peace signs or thumbs-ups that could be interpreted as endorsements for specific candidates or parties. The culture surrounding K-pop idols often demands civic engagement without overtly displaying political affiliations.

This intricate dilemma was highlighted recently when Kim Tae-rae from ZeroBaseOne shared a selfie flashing a “V”sign, accompanied by a blue phone. He later clarified that the blue color was intended to mitigate any potential political implications.

SM Entertainment Responds with an Apology

In light of the backlash, SM Entertainment issued a statement:

“We apologize for causing concern due to our artist Karina’s recent post. Karina simply shared something from her daily life on social media, with absolutely no other intention or purpose. Once she realized that the post could be misunderstood, she immediately deleted it. We sincerely apologize for any distress this may have caused unintentionally. Our agency will also be more careful and make greater efforts to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We hope that our artists’ intentions will no longer be misrepresented or consumed with a particular agenda, and we will do our utmost to protect Karina and all of our artists. Thank you.”

As South Korea prepares for its snap presidential election, with early voting commencing this Thursday, it is expected that idols will appear at polling stations clad in neutral colors, meticulously avoiding gestures to maintain their neutral stance while engaging with fans.

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