aespa leader and fashion icon Karina showcased her multifaceted charm through a new pictorial.
Karina recently graced the cover and inside pages of the February issue of Esquire.
Maintaining a down-to-earth attitude throughout the interview, Karina responded to being described as bold by saying, “It might look that way, but I’m actually the member who gets the most nervous on stage. Even now, my hands get cold and sweaty when I’m about to go on. But once the performance starts, I’m fine—and by the end, I’m so excited that I’m smiling nonstop.”
She also spoke about how her approach to work has evolved as she’s gained more experience.
Karina explained, “As the years go by, there are more opportunities to communicate with the company. The members actually try out the choreography to the songs the company selects, get a sense of the overall feel, and then share our opinions.”
Discussing her recently released solo track "GOOD STUFF", Karina shared, “I was involved in everything—from the lyrics and choreography to stage direction, styling, and even camera angles. When it comes to performing, I like hip-hop; when singing slowly, I enjoy R&B and jazz; and vocally, I’m drawn to rock ballads. So my solo song feels like a mix of all those elements. I just have a lot of things I want to do.”
In particular, Karina reflected on how she sees herself, saying, “I think of Karina as ‘an awakened Yoo Jimin.’ My personal principle is to never forget that, even while living as a celebrity, I’m still Yoo Jimin—the daughter of my mom and dad.”
Karina’s pictorial and full interview can be found in the February issue of Esquire.
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