Karina, a member of aespa, has deleted a recent Instagram post after it sparked controversy for allegedly implying political support ahead of the South Korean presidential election.
On May 27, Karina uploaded a series of photos taken on a street in Tokyo, Japan, accompanied only by a flower emoji. In the images, she wore a red jersey with a bold diagonal stripe and the number '2' on the front, posing playfully for the camera.
However, the combination of the red color and the number quickly drew attention online. Red is the official color of the conservative People Power Party, and the number 2 is the ballot number for candidate Kim Moon Soo. Some netizens interpreted the post as a subtle endorsement of his campaign.
Supporters of Kim began commenting with praise, calling Karina “a patriotic conservative” and “the goddess of the right.” Others wrote “Karina is definitely number 2,” seemingly affirming her alleged support.
In contrast, critics argued that public figures should be more cautious during sensitive political times. “Colors and numbers can easily be interpreted as symbols of political alignment,” one comment read.
As the controversy gained traction on online communities, the post was quietly removed from Karina’s account.
Karina is not the only celebrity drawing attention during the heated election season. Singer Kim Heung Gook, JK Kim Dong Wook, and comedian Lee Hyuk Jae have openly supported Kim Moon Soo, while actors Lee Ki Young, Lee Won Jong, and Park Hyuk Kwon have publicly backed Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung.
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