aespa's Karina publicly addressed the political color controversy that arose last May for the first time on a broadcast, offering a heartfelt apology. Despite her cautious confession, her honest approach to confronting the controversy head-on has prompted internet users to respond with support, saying, "It was a courageous statement."
On the 6th, a video titled "Finally here. The youngest guest Karina...!" was posted on the YouTube channel 'Yeojeongjaehyeong.'
In the video, Karina, while sharing a meal with MC Jung Jae-hyung, cautiously mentioned the recent issues. She stated, "I have two dreams. One is to live without worry," adding, "There have been recent issues, and I hope that not just me but also everyone around me can be at peace." She continued, "The fans were very worried, so I felt even more sorry," honestly sharing her feelings at the time.
This was the first time Karina directly mentioned the political interpretation controversy that arose when she posted a photo wearing a jumper marked with the red number '2' alongside a rose emoji last May. At the time, the post raised suspicions of being linked to a specific party, leading to controversies online. As the issue spread, she deleted the post, and her agency, SM Entertainment, remarked that it was "an everyday post made with no intention."
Karina conveyed an apology through the fan platform Bubble at that time, but this is the first instance she has directly mentioned it on a public broadcast. She explained, "It was cold that day, so I hurriedly bought outerwear and posted to communicate with the fans," adding, "I received contact and took it down immediately, but I clearly had ignorance. I believe that I should have known the basics, even if I was overseas."
She added, "It is something I should bear, but it was the hardest to see the impact it had on my members. I am very sorry, and I will be more aware and cautious going forward."
As this broadcast was made public, internet users expressed positive reactions, saying, "It must not have been easy to mention this directly on air; it was brave," "I felt the intention to clarify misunderstandings and consider the fans," and "Anyone can make mistakes, but I appreciated the responsible attitude in which she explained herself." Some fans also expressed, "That's so Karina," and noted, "She must have gone through a lot of mental stress during this time."
Through this broadcast, Karina displayed a sincere reflection and responsible attitude rather than just a simple explanation, communicating with the public. Her cautious voice, delivered about a month and a half after the controversy, has increased trust in her even more.
[Photo] Video capture
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