Latest news with #aespa
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
ASEA Day 2: i-dle, Kim Hye Yoon And ZEROBASEONE Rule The Event
Last Updated: After aespa and BLACKPINK's Jisoo dominated the first day of the ceremony, i-DLE took the spotlight on the second day. The Asia Star Entertainer Awards made a grand return for its second season on May 28, 2025. Launched by Newsen and Star1 magazine, the ceremony kicked off its first night at Yokohama K-Arena in Japan. The star-studded event continued with a glamorous second day on May 29, hosted by THE BOYZ's Younghoon alongside Monsta X's Kim Hye Yoon and Hyungwon. After aespa and BLACKPINK's Jisoo dominated the first day of the ceremony, i-dle took the spotlight on the second day as the group took home three major awards of the ceremony. It included Record of the Year, Global K-pop Leader, and Platinum. Even Lovely Runner stars Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok shone bright, winning three awards during the night. The coveted Performance of the Year award was claimed by ZEROBASEONE, who also took home the Platinum honour. Other prestigious Platinum winners included Sakurazaka46, &Team, THE BOYZ, and THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE. Actress Kim Hye Yoon was honoured with the Best Artist award, while Choo Young Woo and Byeon Woo Seok jointly received the Best Artist (Male) award. The Best Male Group award went to PLAVE, and BTOB took home the Best Vocal Group award. Other notable winners included ATARASHII GAKKO as Best Artist (Singer), HANA as Best New Artist (Singer), and Jo Yu Ri as Best New Artist (Actress). THE BOYZ also bagged the Best Conceptual Artist of the Year award. BTS' Jin won the Best OST award for Close to You from When the Stars Gossip. Joining him in this category, Byeon Woo Seok was honoured for Sudden Shower from the Lovely Runner OST. The Hot Icon award went to two boy bands, and FANTASY BOYS, while the Hot Trend award was claimed by BADVILLAIN and NouerA. Other notable winners on ASEA Day 2 included Lim Young Woong, Lee Se Young, and Sakaguchi Kentaro, who received the Fan Choice Artist (Singer) and Fan Choice Couple awards. On the first day of the ceremony, aespa took home both Artist of the Year and Song of the Year awards. ENHYPEN's album ROMANCE: UNTOLD won Album of the Year, and BLACKPINK's Jisoo captured the spotlight with the Best Solo of the Year (Female) award. First Published:
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
aespa's Karina under fire in South Korea — SM Entertainment, fans blamed for dragging HYBE artists into controversy
Karina from the K-pop girl group aespa has been caught in a social media storm after an Instagram post unintentionally sparked political controversy in South Korea. The singer uploaded photos of herself wearing a red and black jacket with the number "2" and captioned it with a single rose emoji. While fans overseas found the post harmless, many Korean netizens quickly linked it to Kim Moon Soo, a presidential candidate associated with the ruling People Power Party. Red is the party's color, and "2" is Kim's assigned candidate number. Swift backlash and late apology The post was taken down within hours, but not before it drew sharp criticism. Karina was accused of subtly endorsing a political figure—something K-pop idols typically avoid due to their widespread influence over young fans. The backlash prompted SM Entertainment to release a statement clarifying that the post had "no political intent." Karina also issued a personal apology through the paid fan app Bubble, stating she never meant to offend anyone. Follower drop sparks more debate In the aftermath, Karina's Instagram followers dropped from 24 million to 23.8 million—a loss of about 200,000. Some attributed the dip to the controversy, while others pointed out that Instagram had recently purged inactive or bot accounts, a trend that affected many other celebrity profiles as well. Several fans noted that the follower count had begun to drop days before the post went live. Damage control: SM Entertainment's media play and fan response As the backlash intensified, some fans began speculating that SM Entertainment was engaging in "media play" to deflect attention. Older, unrelated news involving HYBE, its artists, and HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk began circulating on Korean media platforms—despite offering no substantial updates. Fans noted the suspicious timing, suggesting these articles were resurfaced deliberately to shift focus away from Karina. huh?? 😲 the minute sm's golden girl's in hot water, suddenly chaewon's pic is front and center in an article that's not even about her. and they're digging up stuff that's been public for ages. like be serious. do they think we're that dumb to not know this is contrived The Financial Supervisory Service has stated that recent reports alleging fraudulent transactions by Bang Si-Hyuk are unfounded and confirmed that no such investigation is Meanwhile, aespa's fans—known as MYs—rallied on X (formerly Twitter), launching a campaign highlighting other idols who have also used the peace sign, arguing that similar gestures had gone uncriticized. Karina posting in support of a conservative party in korea and the members of the party showing support to aespa in return. Ntm aespa fans sold out the jacket. Karina and her fans both dumb and stupid as fuck However, fans of HYBE artists responded strongly, accusing MYs of spreading "false equivalencies." They insisted Karina's apology should have been posted on Instagram—where the controversy originated—rather than on Bubble, a paid fan communication app. Some users also noted that Karina's statement regarding her dating news was more extensive than her current apology, further fueling dissatisfaction. Bye she wrote better apology for dating then for showing she support far-right wing 💀I know what you are Karina Despite diverging opinions, one thing is clear: the incident has opened up wider conversations about idol accountability, fan behavior, and the complicated intersection of pop culture and politics in South Korea. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Backlash against K-pop star's deleted photo shows pressure on industry to remain apolitical
Karina, a member of the popular K-pop girl group aespa, found herself in the eye of a storm after a picture of her outfit sparked accusations of political endorsement and breaching one of Korean entertainment's unwritten rules: complete neutrality. On Wednesday, Karina posted an Instagram photo of herself dressed in a red-and-black jacket with the number 2 on it. Many people interpreted it as a subtle nod to Kim Moon Soo, candidate of the conservative People Power Party in South Korea's 3 June presidential election, whose campaign branding uses red and the ballot number 2. She deleted the post as soon as the comments started coming in and issued an apology on fan subscription platform Bubble. 'I'm sorry for making you worry. That was never my intention,' she said. 'I will be more mindful and cautious with my actions going forward. Once again, I'm sorry for causing concern.' Her agency, SM Entertainment, released a statement reinforcing her neutrality and calling her outfit 'everyday content' that was taken down once they realised the potential for misinterpretation. What looks like an overreaction to an otherwise innocuous image is quite emblematic of the intense cultural pressure placed on South Korean celebrities, especially K-pop idols, to practise near-total political abstinence. The expectations are so high that idols often avoid colours, numbers or gestures that could be misread, no matter how coincidental the context. This level of hyper-vigilance stems from the deeply embedded expectation that K-pop idols function as cultural blank slates; figures onto whom fans can project ideals, rather than individuals with opinions or personal leanings. In such an environment, even the faintest suggestion of partisanship or socially loaded behaviour can and does trigger major criticism. The latest wave of scrutiny arrived against the backdrop of a tumultuous election. South Koreans are heading to the polls on 3 June, in a snap presidential election triggered by the impeachment of president Yoon Suk Yeol in April. Yoon was removed from office after controversially invoking martial law in December 2024, a decision that led to nationwide protests and his eventual downfall in the National Assembly. The leading candidate is Lee Jae Myung of the liberal Democratic Party whose campaign has focused on economic equity and foreign policy reform. Around election season, K-pop idols are warned against wearing colours associated with the major political parties: red for the People Power Party, blue for Democratic Party, yellow and green for the Green Justice Party, and so on. Even benign hand gestures like the peace sign or a thumbs up, when done near polling places or shared online, are discouraged because they can mimic party or candidate ballot numbers. Failure to follow these unwritten rules often results in immediate backlash. In 2018, entertainer Yoo Jae Suk faced criticism for wearing a blue cap during the 2018 regional election, and in 2020 trot singer Song Ga In had to apologise for wearing a blue shirt in a video made by the National Election Commission to encourage voting. This level of scrutiny of Korean celebrities is not limited to politics but extends to historical sensitivities and even personal lives. BTS's Suga faced fan outrage and protest wreaths after being fined for drunk-driving an electric scooter, an act that was treated by some fans as grounds for expulsion from the group. Similarly, Karina was accused of 'betrayal' by fans and forced to issue an apology last year after they found out she was dating actor Lee Jae Wook. Idols have also issued apologies for travelling to Japan, which has a fraught history with Korea, during sensitive national holidays and for making what fans have considered insensitive comments related to Korean history. However, some idols seem to have figured out a way to bypass these arbitrary rules. ZeroBaseOne's Kim Tae Rae addressed election season etiquette in a post on a fan platform where he could be seen flashing a 'V' sign, which can be interpreted as a reference to Kim Moon Soo. To avoid any issues, Kim joked that he was balancing out any speculation with the colour of his phone – blue.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Backlash against K-pop star's deleted photo shows pressure on industry to remain apolitical
Karina, a member of the popular K-pop girl group aespa, found herself in the eye of a storm after a picture of her outfit sparked accusations of political endorsement and breaching one of Korean entertainment's unwritten rules: complete neutrality. On Wednesday, Karina posted an Instagram photo of herself dressed in a red-and-black jacket with the number 2 on it. Many people interpreted it as a subtle nod to Kim Moon Soo, candidate of the conservative People Power Party in South Korea's 3 June presidential election, whose campaign branding uses red and the ballot number 2. She deleted the post as soon as the comments started coming in and issued an apology on fan subscription platform Bubble. 'I'm sorry for making you worry. That was never my intention,' she said. 'I will be more mindful and cautious with my actions going forward. Once again, I'm sorry for causing concern.' Her agency, SM Entertainment, released a statement reinforcing her neutrality and calling her outfit 'everyday content' that was taken down once they realised the potential for misinterpretation. What looks like an overreaction to an otherwise innocuous image is quite emblematic of the intense cultural pressure placed on South Korean celebrities, especially K-pop idols, to practise near-total political abstinence. The expectations are so high that idols often avoid colours, numbers or gestures that could be misread, no matter how coincidental the context. This level of hyper-vigilance stems from the deeply embedded expectation that K-pop idols function as cultural blank slates; figures onto whom fans can project ideals, rather than individuals with opinions or personal leanings. In such an environment, even the faintest suggestion of partisanship or socially loaded behaviour can and does trigger major criticism. The latest wave of scrutiny arrived against the backdrop of a tumultuous election. South Koreans are heading to the polls on 3 June, in a snap presidential election triggered by the impeachment of president Yoon Suk Yeol in April. Yoon was removed from office after controversially invoking martial law in December 2024, a decision that led to nationwide protests and his eventual downfall in the National Assembly. The leading candidate is Lee Jae Myung of the liberal Democratic Party whose campaign has focused on economic equity and foreign policy reform. Around election season, K-pop idols are warned against wearing colours associated with the major political parties: red for the People Power Party, blue for Democratic Party, yellow and green for the Green Justice Party, and so on. Even benign hand gestures like the peace sign or a thumbs up, when done near polling places or shared online, are discouraged because they can mimic party or candidate ballot numbers. Failure to follow these unwritten rules often results in immediate backlash. In 2018, entertainer Yoo Jae Suk faced criticism for wearing a blue cap during the 2018 regional election, and in 2020 trot singer Song Ga In had to apologise for wearing a blue shirt in a video made by the National Election Commission to encourage voting. This level of scrutiny of Korean celebrities is not limited to politics but extends to historical sensitivities and even personal lives. BTS 's Suga faced fan outrage and protest wreaths after being fined for drunk-driving an electric scooter, an act that was treated by some fans as grounds for expulsion from the group. Similarly, Karina was accused of 'betrayal' by fans and forced to issue an apology last year after they found out she was dating actor Lee Jae Wook. Idols have also issued apologies for travelling to Japan, which has a fraught history with Korea, during sensitive national holidays and for making what fans have considered insensitive comments related to Korean history. However, some idols seem to have figured out a way to bypass these arbitrary rules. ZeroBaseOne's Kim Tae Rae addressed election season etiquette in a post on a fan platform where he could be seen flashing a 'V' sign, which can be interpreted as a reference to Kim Moon Soo. To avoid any issues, Kim joked that he was balancing out any speculation with the colour of his phone – blue.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Aespa's Karina Caught In Political Controversy, SM Entertainment Responds
Last Updated: SM Entertainment stated, 'Karina simply shared something from her daily life on social media, with absolutely no other intention or purpose.' South Korean singer and rapper Karina from the girl group aespa is facing an unexpected controversy over a picture that she posted on her personal Instagram account. In the now-deleted image, which was uploaded on May 27, the 25-year-old K-pop idol was wearing a red and black varsity-styled jacket with the number 2 printed on it. She captioned the post simply with a red rose emoji. While the post at first seemed like just any other update on social media, and it did not immediately raise any red flags, many Korean fans of the idol believed that there was a hidden political message. This came at a time when South Korea was gearing up for its 21st presidential Election. Following the massive backlash, aespa's agency SM Entertainment released a statement on May 28. As quoted by Soompi, the agency stated, 'We apologise for causing concern due to our artist Karina's recent post. Karina simply shared something from her daily life on social media, with absolutely no other intention or purpose." Speaking about the deletion of the post, SM Entertainment added, 'Once she realised that the post could be misunderstood, she immediately deleted it. We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused unintentionally." The agency further assured fans that they will be more careful from now on to avoid such untoward situations. They stated, 'Our agency will also be more careful and make greater efforts to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We hope that our artist's intentions will no longer be misrepresented or consumed with a particular agenda, and we will do our utmost to protect Karina and all of our artists." And the reason behind the backlash? In South Korea, red is often associated with the current ruling party, the People Power Party. Meanwhile, the number 2 represents Kim Moon Soo, a candidate for the upcoming election. Many took to social media to express their frustration, accusing the aespa member of indirectly supporting a political candidate, even though she did not hint about it anywhere in the post. Upon realisation and backlash, Karina deleted her post. Aespa's Karina is facing backlash from netizens for wearing the colors associated with a conservative political party and including the party's number and emoji in her Instagram international fans this is equivalent of being a trumpie — Flop Kpop (@TheFlopKpop) May 28, 2025 One of the users said, 'Supporting the same party that tried to stage a coup and is known for being against women's rights and supporting the patriarchy is actually crazy." A different user commented, 'Yeah, I'm unstanning until she confirms otherwise is true." Meanwhile, her fans came out in support, telling others that she was just casually wearing a red and black jacket. First Published:
