aespa’s Karina Called Out For Insincere Apology Regarding Recent Controversy

aespa‘s Karina has been hit with backlash after her apology for the recent controversy.

Karina uploaded a post that some Koreans thought represented her political views amid preparations for the Presidential Election. Netizens thought that because Karina’s jacket was red and had a number two, she was a “supporter” of Kim Moon Soo, the current ruling party candidate from the People Power Party. The post was deleted following backlash.

SM Entertainment apologized for the upload.

SM Entertainment Apologizes For aespa Karina’s Controversial Upload

Karina later followed with her own apology on the paid platform Bubble.

aespa’s Karina Personally Addresses Recent Political Controversy

Yet, Korean netizens instantly hit back at Karina and labeled the apology as insincere, with some pointing out that she waited too long for a short message.

• Does she really not understand how big of a deal this has become? Reading that post, it feels like she’s saying it’s not a big deal.
• It’s funny how she’s apologizing so insincerely.
• If she was just going to end it with a Bubble post, she should’ve done it right away yesterday. It’s not even an explanation.
• I can’t believe I waited all this time just to see that…
• She really only did it because she had to.. LOL
• Oh dear…
• I don’t know if it’s sincere… Even if she posted it without thinking, it’s still a problem.

In particular, it sparked attention after the apology was compared to the hand-written letter she released after dating news with actor Lee Jae Wook, which resurfaced.

Many thought the first letter was excessive and didn’t need a full apology, in comparison to the recent “controversy.”

• So light, so superficial LOL
• You can totally feel the difference in sincerity LOL
• It’s just common sense: handle a Bubble slip-up on Bubble, handle an Instagram slip-up on Instagram.