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Source: Karina's Instagram

Karina, a member of the K-pop girl group aespa, has addressed a growing political controversy over a recent social media post, clarifying that she had no political intent. Her agency, SM Entertainment, also issued a statement apologizing for the confusion.

On May 28, Karina wrote on the fan communication platform Bubble, “There was absolutely no political intent. But since the misunderstanding keeps growing and so many people are worried, I felt I should speak directly.” She added, “From now on, I’ll be more attentive and careful. I’m sorry for causing concern.”

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A message posted by Karina on a fan communication platform on May 28. / A snapshot of Karina's fan communication platform

SM Entertainment echoed her statement in a separate announcement: “We apologize for any concern caused by Karina’s post. It was a personal and everyday photo, with no underlying message or intent. Once she realized it could cause misunderstanding, she deleted the post immediately.”

The agency added, “We will make greater efforts to prevent similar situations in the future. We hope that our artist’s intent will no longer be distorted or misused for particular purposes. SM Entertainment remains committed to protecting Karina and all of our artists.”

The controversy erupted on the night of May 27, when Karina posted a photo of herself wearing a red jumper with the number 2 printed on it. The image quickly went viral, with speculation that it was a veiled endorsement of a certain political candidate ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Under pressure from public reaction, Karina deleted the post shortly afterward.