Karina, a member of the girl group aespa, found herself embroiled in controversy over political implications regarding the windbreaker jacket she wore, leading her agency, SM Entertainment, to clarify that there was no specific purpose or intention.
On the 28th, SM Entertainment issued a press release stating, "We apologize for causing concern with our artist Karina's post."
SM Entertainment noted, "Karina simply posted everyday content on social media with no other purpose or intention whatsoever," adding, "After realizing there was potential for misunderstanding, we promptly deleted the post. We sincerely apologize for the distress caused inadvertently."
It also added, "We will be more careful and make efforts to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future," and expressed hope that the artist's intent would not be distorted and consumed for specific purposes.
The day before, Karina had posted a photo on her Instagram account along with a red rose emoji. In the photo, she posed wearing a black jacket with stripes and the red number '2' while in Japan.
As soon as the photo was posted, it sparked controversy in online communities. There were claims that wearing clothing with the number 2 and red colors indicated support for a specific political party, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election.
Furthermore, the timing of the photo's posting coincided with the final third TV debate among presidential candidates, igniting further controversy. Some speculated that the red rose emoji might symbolize the "rose election," referring to the presidential election held in the season when roses bloom. Karina deleted the post shortly after.