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aespa member Karina deleted an Instagram post on May 27 after a photo of her wearing a jacket with a prominent red number “2” sparked political speculation just one week ahead of South Korea’s presidential election.

In the now-deleted post, Karina wore a black windbreaker with bold red stripes and the number “2” on the chest, paired with a white skirt. Based on signs in the background, the photo appeared to have been taken in Japan. She also added a rose emoji to the post—prompting further speculation, as roses are often symbolically associated with presidential campaigns, especially during what is colloquially called a "Rose Election" in Korea.

The post went live during the final televised presidential debate, fueling online rumors that Karina might be subtly endorsing a particular candidate. It quickly gained traction, amassing over 600,000 likes and 6,000 comments before being removed.

Online communities buzzed with keywords like “Karina update” and “Karina windbreaker,” intensifying the visibility of the post. The growing attention and political interpretation appear to have led Karina to delete the post soon after.

Ironically, the jacket she wore—by U.S. fashion brand Vaquera—became a hot commodity online. Priced between 700,000 and 900,000 won (approx. $500–$650), the jacket saw a surge in demand. As of the morning of May 28, many sizes were nearly sold out, with some listings reportedly exceeding 1 million won (approx. $750), up from an initial price of 400,000 won.

While the debate over the post’s intent continues, the viral moment has highlighted the sensitive intersection between pop culture and politics—especially in election season.