Karina has found herself in hot water after a recent Instagram post led to accusations of political bias just days before South Korea’s presidential election. The controversy began when the aespa leader uploaded photos of herself in Tokyo wearing a red and black jacket with the number “2” clearly visible, along with a simple rose emoji as the caption.
The post quickly drew attention online, with many interpreting the red color and number “2” as a subtle show of support for conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon Soo, whose People Power Party uses red as its official color and who is assigned ballot number 2 in the election. Some netizens praised her as a “patriotic conservative,” while others criticized her for being careless during such a sensitive political period.
The backlash intensified when a spokesperson for the People Power Party, Baek Ji Won, publicly referenced aespa’s song “Supernova” in an Instagram story. It further fueled speculation about Karina’s political leanings. Many believe that she posted the photos intentionally to show support for the People Power Party ahead of South Korea’s 21st presidential election on June 3.
Meanwhile, another party official, Lee Soo Jung, posted a photo of the Up singer with the caption, “If you mess with Karina, you’re done.”
Karina deleted the post shortly after the controversy erupted, but the damage was already done. Online discussions continued to rage, with some calling her actions thoughtless and others defending her, saying the political interpretation was exaggerated. The jacket that she wore has already sold out.
As of now, neither Karina nor SM Entertainment has issued an official statement about the controversy.
This incident highlights the unspoken rule in K-pop that idols should avoid wearing politically charged colors or making gestures that could be misconstrued during election seasons. Other idols, like ZEROBASEONE’s Taerae, have also faced scrutiny for supporting the Democratic Party.
South Korea is holding early elections after former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s term ended prematurely in disgrace. His presidency collapsed following a controversial six-hour martial law declaration last December, cutting short what was supposed to be a term lasting until 2027.
During election periods, K-pop idols typically avoid wearing colors associated with political parties. Red represents the People Power Party, blue signifies the Democratic Party, and yellow or green are the official colors of the Green Justice Party.
The two-day early voting period for the upcoming presidential election, which is open to all eligible voters across the country, kicks off on Thursday.
