Karina, a member of aespa, has become embroiled in a political controversy sparked by a social media post, leading her fans to speak out strongly against what they call unfair political framing and online hate.

On May 27, Karina posted a photo on her social media featuring herself wearing a red and black jacket with the number “2” in red, taken on a street in Japan. Although the post was simple and accompanied only by a rose emoji, it quickly drew unwanted political interpretations.

The image circulated on online forums under the title "Karina’s Recent Update," where some users speculated that her outfit was a sign of political support ahead of the upcoming presidential election in South Korea. The post was soon deleted amid the growing controversy.

In response, netizens criticized Karina for allegedly being careless during a sensitive political period, with comments like "Celebrities should be more cautious in times like this" and "There’s no way she posted that without an agenda."

However, many others defended Karina, arguing that the political readings were baseless and the backlash excessive. Supporters pointed out that "Female celebrities should not be sacrificed in the face of political framing and online hate," emphasizing that Karina was unfairly targeted due to arbitrary interpretations of her personal social media post.

On May 28, Karina’s fans released an official statement condemning the controversy. They highlighted the dangers of politicizing a female entertainer’s private expression and called for an end to the online hate she faced. The statement underscored that Karina’s post was taken out of context and became the center of an unnecessary political debate.

This incident reflects the heightened scrutiny that public figures, especially women, face in South Korea’s politically charged environment. While Karina and her agency have yet to comment officially, the fan statement brings attention to the broader issue of protecting female celebrities from unfair political targeting and online harassment.

Karina’s Fandom Official Statement

"Female celebrities must not become victims of political framing and online hate.

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees political freedom for all citizens. This freedom includes not only the press, publication, assembly, and association, but also the right to express political opinions through everyday personal expression.

Political freedom is the foundation of a democratic society and enables a space where diverse interpretations and expressions can coexist.

Recently, however, a female celebrity’s social media post has been interpreted with political meaning and misrepresented, leading to widespread controversy. This has escalated beyond a simple exchange of opinions into defamation, sexual harassment, and personal attacks.

Furthermore, following the remarks of a particular politician during a debate, online secondary victimization targeting the female celebrity has been spreading rapidly. This has created a structure where, regardless of the celebrity’s intent, she is used as a tool of political attack and a scapegoat for hate.

Freedom of expression must never be exercised in a way that damages someone’s reputation and dignity.

Political discourse should be conducted between those directly involved. The current reality, where an unrelated female celebrity becomes a victim of such conflict, is clearly unjust.

Therefore, we express the following positions:

1. We express deep regret over the reality in which a female celebrity, who has no connection to the political dispute, is being used as a tool for political games and a target of hate. We strongly condemn this.

2. Sexually abusive language, personal attacks, and derogatory comments or posts circulated in online communities are not merely expressions of opinion, but clear forms of social defamation.

3. If such malicious behavior continues, we assert that strong legal action will be unavoidable.

Regardless of political stance, we must uphold the principle that no one should be strategically consumed for political purposes or made a target of hate.

This is the dignity of the community we must protect, and the foundation of a democratic society where freedom of expression and human rights can coexist.

What we need now is a respectful and responsible attitude in our expressions toward one another.

We aim to build a society where pop culture artists, including celebrities, are not victimized by political intent or misinterpretation. We strive for a society where people are not attacked even when opinions differ. A society where common sense and dignity are upheld — that is the direction our democracy should be headed.

May 28, 2025
All Members of the Female Celebrity Gallery"

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