Karina, leader of the global K-pop sensation aespa, recently found herself at the center of a heated political controversy following her Instagram photo wearing a distinctive black-and-red Vaquera jacket featuring the number 2.
Despite Karina and SM Entertainment issuing formal apologies, skepticism remains high as many continue to question the intentions behind the photo.
Conservative Supporters Attempt to Brand Karina as a “Conservative Icon”
On June 1, an online channel’s “People Power Party Gallery” replaced its header image with the controversial photo of Karina, reigniting attention. According to the channel, the image was uploaded by a male user in his 30s. Thirty minutes later, the header was changed to the People Power Party logo, temporarily resolving the issue. Currently, the header image features former Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo holding a child.
Similar trends are spreading online. Reports have surfaced of conservative voters setting Karina’s photo as their KakaoTalk profile images. As a result, concerns are growing that Karina is being labeled as a “No. 2 (People Power Party symbol) supporting idol” against her will.
One netizen remarked, “My dad, who never used a celebrity photo, changed his profile picture to Karina this time.” Other reactions include, “Far-right accounts are flooded with Karina’s photos,” and “Someone in my department set Karina’s photo as their profile.”
Vaquera Jacket Becomes a Political Symbol
The Vaquera jacket in her photos, priced at approximately 720,000 KRW (about $523 USD), swiftly sold out online, turning into a symbolic item among supporters of the conservative People Power Party.
This surge highlights Karina’s powerful influence in blending K-pop culture with political symbolism, a phenomenon increasingly observed in South Korea’s entertainment landscape.
Karina’s Image Appeared in Election Campaigns
Karina’s image has since been widely used in media supporting Kim Moon-soo’s campaign, appearing on news outlets, YouTube thumbnails, and political posters, intensifying the debate.
However, the backlash from opposition supporters was immediate. Karina’s name was even used satirically during election events, sparking intense online debates over the intersection of K-pop and politics. This controversy reveals the complex role idols like Karina play as cultural icons whose personal actions resonate beyond music into political arenas.
The case of Karina’s jacket photo underscores the growing influence of K-pop idols in shaping social and political narratives. As K-pop continues to expand globally, the stakes for artists’ public images grow higher, intertwining entertainment with political expression in new and challenging ways.