aespa's latest single "Dirty Work," released on June 27, is sparking mixed reactions among Korean netizens.
The track had already been partially revealed through an Apple iPhone commercial before its official release, which led some listeners to say that the full version felt somewhat underwhelming. These netizens felt that the early exposure may have taken away from the excitement and impact of the full song.
Korean netizens' reaction
However, others are praising the track for its catchy melody and clean production. Fans who enjoyed the commercial say the full version still holds up and showcases aespa’s distinct style, balancing pop appeal with a sleek performance.
Here are some of the comments from Korean netizens:
"I like it. For me, the part that hits the hardest is the ‘walk in’ part from the ad."
"I feel like it’ll climb the charts more once they start performing it on music shows."
"Honestly, I had high expectations after seeing the part in the Apple ad, but the full song feels really bland and disappointing."
"Whenever it starts to feel a bit flat, Winter’s vocals refresh the track. Her bridge part is really good."
"At first, it felt like the song lacked an explosive moment like 'Supernova,' 'Armageddon,' or 'We Fresh'—but the more I listen, the more it’s a crazy good track. The beat especially just screams money—super sleek. That said, it’s a shame aespa doesn’t have a member with that unmistakable superstar aura."
"I can see why there's little international reaction. Even though they’re six years in, it still feels clumsy."
"I love it. Totally my style."
"It’s good, but something feels a bit lacking. Maybe because the previous songs were so impactful, this one feels kind of dull in comparison?"
"Feels like wind is blowing through my ears—the highlight is hard to enjoy..."
"It’s insanely good... Whoever’s in charge of aespa’s A&R should be making at least 300 million won a year each."
"The music video camera work is a bit overwhelming, but it’s a music video, so whatever. I like the song."
"I thought the concept was amazing, but apparently that was just the Apple ad. The actual music video is really underwhelming."
"The song itself is good, and I think it’ll chart easily. But once they start performing it, the dance takes over and the song gets lost. It’s not a track that wins with vocals—it relies on the beat and vibe—but the performance doesn’t match that. I think they should promote less and just push the music video. Even the MV is mostly concept shots, not performance. Once fancams drop... I’ll keep quiet."
"Can we please stop giving Karina the intro? It feels so forced every time..."
"I doubt anyone from the agency reads every comment, but I wish they’d bring out more of Winter and Ningning’s vocals. Their voices can be emotional, soft, and sharp all at once, but they’re not given a real chance to shine."
"Karina sounds great in the chorus, seriously."
"Maybe it feels underwhelming because expectations were sky-high after 'Supernova,' 'Armageddon,' and 'We Fresh.' Still, I think this song will be a hit—it’s got mass appeal."
"All four of them look amazing right now, so I wish they had gone for a concept that really brought that out, like something fresh and sexy. This one’s heavy and dark, and while they pull it off, it doesn’t feel cool—more like they’re forcing something edgy. A bit cringe, honestly. Such a shame."
"The rankings speak for themselves. Top 2 on the charts in just one day."
What are your thoughts? Are you loving aespa's "Dirty Work"?
SEE ALSO: aespa get down to the 'Dirty Work' in iron-flavored MV
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