Baek Ji Won, spokesperson for the People Power Party’s central election committee, publicly expressed support for Karina, a member of aespa, on May 27th KST via social media.
Baek shared a screenshot from the music video of aespa’s hit track Supernova on Instagram, along with the phrase “SHOUT OUT TO”—a common expression in hip-hop culture used to show respect or support toward an individual or group.
He also posted the album cover of aespa’s full-length album 'Armageddon', which features 'Supernova', further emphasizing his show of support.
The posts came amid growing controversy surrounding Karina, who faced allegations of political signaling after uploading casual photos from Japan to her personal Instagram account. Netizens speculated that her black and red outfit, along with the visible number “2,” were subtle endorsements of a specific political party ahead of Korea’s 21st presidential election on June 3rd.
While there is no official statement from Karina or SM Entertainment regarding the speculation, the issue sparked heated online debate, with critics and defenders clashing over whether her outfit was intended as political messaging.
On May 28th KST, Lee Soo Jung, head of the People Power Party’s Suwon Jeong District Committee, also took to Facebook to voice support for Karina. She wrote, “The secondary attacks on the victim must be harsh, but let’s get through it,” sharing a photo of the singer. She added a hashtag that read, “If you touch Karina, you’re done,” making her stance clear.
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