Aespa ’s Karina opens up about her political jacket controversy in detail for the first time. She admitted her ignorance and expressed deep regret over the fallout.
Aespa’s Karina has finally addressed the political controversy around her earlier this summer, after months of online criticism. The singer shared an apparently casual Instagram photo, which sparked the problem. She had on a red jacket with the number two printed on it. The combination sparked widespread rumors that she was showing support for a right-wing politician during Korea 's election season.
SM Entertainment and Karina quickly responded with apologies, insisting there was no political message behind the outfit. Despite all the efforts, criticism continued to flood in. Now, during a recent variety show appearance, Karina has stepped up to share her side of the story once again.
Karina’s apology to the fans:

When asked about the controversy, the singer did not tip-toe around the conversation, rather took the questions head-on and responded to how all of this affected her and the people close to her.
Karina started by admitting that the recent event had caused her to think carefully. It wasn't just about her; it also caused her to consider the effects that these problems may have on those around her. She revealed that it made her hope that everyone's lives would be more peaceful and effortless moving forward.
Karina expressed remorse for the unintended consequences, especially the concern it caused among fans. “I honestly had no such intention at all,” she said. She explained that this was the reason she felt the need to speak up and clarify things. However, despite her intentions, she noticed that fans remained concerned. It left her feeling genuinely apologetic.
She continued, “I genuinely wanted to say how sorry I am to our fans and to everyone who might have been hurt by it. I really had no idea it would become something so serious, and I feel deeply sorry for causing such distress.”
Karina reveals how she ended up wearing the controversial jacket:

According to Karina, the incident started when she and her staff went out. She immediately picked up a jacket because it was cold outside and put it on without giving it much thought. Wanting to share the experience with her fans, she uploaded the picture on the internet, but soon after was told that the picture might be interpreted incorrectly, prompting her to remove it.
She admitted she had no idea that the number and color combo held political connotations, especially during election season. She said, “Looking back, I was really ignorant about it all. Even if I was abroad, it was still something I should’ve known. And I realized I really need to be more aware and educate myself more about these things. I truly was ignorant; I get that now.”
Karina admitted that she felt fully responsible for the controversy and understood that the attention stemmed from her actions. However, what hurt her the most was seeing her fellow aespa members unintentionally dragged into the situation. Watching them face criticism because of something she did was especially painful for her.