Karina Apology Triggers Controversy Before Presidential Election

Karina apology came after fans raised concerns over a social media post suggesting political alignment. She and SM Entertainment clarified that the post had no political intent and was deleted quickly. Online speculation continued due to past harassment from a candidate’s son and its recent legal confirmation.

Karina Apology Sparks Political Debate

Karina of aespa apologized after becoming involved in political controversy ahead of South Korea’s presidential election. On May 28, she posted a message on the fan platform Bubble. She said, “I’m truly sorry for making MYs (aespa’s fandom) worry. I saw how concerned you were, and I felt I needed to speak up.” She added that she would be more careful and thoughtful in the future.

SM Responds After Karina Apology

SM Entertainment also released an official statement on the same day. The company said Karina simply posted a casual photo on social media with no political intention. They added that once she realized the potential misunderstanding, she deleted the post. SM sincerely apologized for causing concern and promised to be more cautious. They also hoped people wouldn’t twist the artist’s actions for political purposes.

Controversial Photo Leads to Karina Apology

Earlier that day, Karina posted a photo wearing a red jacket with the number “2” and a rose emoji. Red and the number “2” represent the People Power Party in South Korea, whose candidate uses that symbol. The post quickly sparked speculation online, as the 21st presidential election—dubbed the “Rose Election”—approaches. After the rumors spread, Karina deleted the post.

Candidate’s Son at Center of Online Speculation

Some online users claimed Karina supports the People Power Party because she had been a victim of verbal abuse. The abuser was allegedly Lee Dong-ho, the son of leading candidate Lee Jae-myung. He had posted severe sexual remarks about Karina online. Another candidate, Lee Jun-seok, mentioned this during a live TV debate. Many believe Karina, angered by the abuse, chose to support the political party opposing Lee Jae-myung. The claim gained more attention after it was revealed on May 28 that Lee Dong-ho was fined 5 million KRW (about 3,700 USD) in October 2024. He was charged with habitual gambling and violating Korea’s Information and Communications Network Act.

Karina’s Career Faces Speculation Over Political Fallout

Posts on the Korean community MLBPARK raised concerns about Karina’s future. Some users feared backlash if Lee Jae-myung became president. They worried Karina might face retaliation for the political speculation. However, many others argued such a situation should never happen in a free democratic country. They also pointed out that Karina is an internationally famous top-tier idol and unlikely to suffer any damage from this issue.

Karina wears a jacket that stirs controversy over political symbolism

Karina wore a jacket that drew attention for its link to political symbolism during South Korea’s election season. Public reactions sharply divided, with some defending her as a victim and others accusing her of taking sides.

Here’s a link to MLBPARK.

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