Karina Apologizes After Political Color Fashion Controversy: Should K-pop Idols Be Freer to Speak Up?

As South Korea approaches a presidential election, aespa’s Karina has unexpectedly become the center of an online storm—over what she wore.

On May 27, Karina posted a photo on Instagram, wearing a black jacket with bold red stripes and the number 2 printed in red—colors and symbols that coincidentally align with a major political party and its candidate in the election. She also added a red rose emoji, which some interpreted as a further nod toward the same political figure.

The post came right after a televised presidential debate, and despite being taken down shortly after, it quickly went viral—leading to intense speculation: was it intentional? Or just an unfortunate coincidence?

In South Korea, Political Expression by Idols Is Rare

In Korea’s entertainment landscape, K-pop idols are generally expected to steer clear of political expression. Especially during election seasons, agencies and artists alike tend to stay extremely cautious to avoid controversy.

Against this backdrop, the online discussion surrounding Karina grew louder. Many questioned whether idols should be able to express themselves more freely, while others urged the public not to politicize everything.

SM Entertainment Responds

On May 28, SM Entertainment issued a statement: “We apologize for causing concern through Karina’s social media post.”

“Karina had no intention whatsoever to express any political message. It was simply a casual post,” the agency added. “Once she realized the potential for misunderstanding, she immediately deleted it. We sincerely apologize for causing unintentional distress.”

The agency further emphasized, “We’ll take extra precautions in the future to prevent similar issues. We hope her actions won’t be misinterpreted or consumed with specific intentions, and we will do our best to protect Karina and all our artists.”

Karina Speaks Directly to Fans

Karina herself addressed the controversy on the fan platform Bubble the same day.

“MY (aespa's fandom), I’m really sorry for making you worry,” she wrote. “I didn’t mean anything by it. But when I saw how the misunderstanding kept growing, I felt like I had to speak up. I’ll be more mindful in the future. Again, I’m sorry.”

While some dismissed the situation as a simple fashion choice gone wrong, others saw it as a reflection of how even the smallest actions by K-pop stars can get politicized. This incident has sparked a broader conversation:

Should idols be allowed to express their views more openly? Or are they forever expected to remain neutral figures, shaped and censored by public scrutiny?

Whatever the intent, one thing is clear: Karina’s outfit made her one of the most talked-about names on social media and news outlets alike—reminding us how tightly entertainment and public discourse are intertwined in K-pop.

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