aespa Profile: Girl Group With the Most Unique Worldview and Music (2024 Updated)

aespa (에스파; also stylized as “æspa”) is a four-member girl group under SM Entertainment. They debuted on November 17, 2020 with the digital single “Black Mamba”.

Biography of aespa  

• Group name: aespa
• Debut date: 17/11/2020
• Company: SM Entertainment 
• Total member: 4
• Members: Karina, Winter, Giselle, Ningning
• Fandom name: MY (마이)
• Official Colors: Wisteria & Malibu

Special information about aespa

The group’s name “aespa” is a combination of “æ”, which means ‘Avatar X Experience’, and “aspect”, which means double-sided. Together it means that one would be able to experience a new world through an avatar of oneself.

Upon their debut, aespa immediately stood out with a unique concept, where each member has an avatar (“æ”) of themselves, who live in KWANGYA. The group’s debut song, “Black Mamba”, is also the name of aespa’s enemy in KWANGYA. 

aespa Fandom

The official fandom for aespa is announced on November 17 to be “MY (마이)”, which is the word used to mean “the most precious friend” in KWANGYA, where aespa’s avatar “æ” lives.

Official SNS channels of aespa

• Website (Japan): aespa-official.jp
• Instagram: @aespa_official
• X (Twitter): @aespa_official / (Japan): @aespaJPofficial
• TikTok: @aespa_official
• YouTube: aespa
• Facebook: aespa
• Weibo: aespa
• Pinterest: aespa

aespa Awards

Due to their massive success, aespa has received a wide range of awards, including 3 prizes at Korean Music Awards, 4 at Melon Music Awards, 4 at Golden Disc Awards, 2 at MAMA Awards, and 3 at Seoul Music Awards.

With their highly-successful debut, aespa swept Rookie of the Year Awards at all major music awards in Korea, including he Melon Music Awards (MMA), MAMA Awards (MAMA), Golden Disc Awards (GDA), Seoul Music Awards (SMA), Circle Chart Music Awards (GCMA), and Korean Music Awards (KMA). 

Back in 2021, aespa won the Grand Prize Daesang “Record of the Year” at the MelOn Music Awards, and in March 2022, aespa achieved another Daesang – “Song of the Year” for “Next Level” at the Korean Music Awards.

Outside of Korea, aespa won “Best Korean Act” at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and was nominated for “Best K-pop” at the MTV Video Music Awards. 

Additionally, aespa was placed in Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Asia” list, and was named as a “Next Generation Leader” by international media outlet TIME. They were also listed among Financial Times’ “25 Most Influential Women” in 2023. 

Controversies

Shady Past: Upon SM Entertainment’s announcement of Giselle as aespa’s fourth member, she faced backlash, with some questioning her short training period and criticizing her appearance. Allegations surfaced online regarding her past, including claims of delinquency and substance abuse. However, a childhood friend defended her, attributing her lack of contact with Japanese friends to a busy schedule. The friend also dismissed party photos as manipulated. Concrete evidence supporting either side is yet to emerge.

Nepotism: Furthermore, Giselle’s family background has also become a hot topic on social media. Some users rediscovered a post showing renowned journalist Cho Joo Hee thanking her granddaughter named Aeri (matching Giselle’s real name) for sending a cake from Tokyo, Japan. The coincidence of name and location sparked rumors that Giselle is Cho’s relative, a significant figure in the Korean entertainment industry and a long-time rumored partner of the SM Entertainment chairman. This detail added fuel to the speculation that Giselle’s debut was facilitated by her family connection.

N-word: In October 2021, Giselle once again became the center of criticism when she became embroiled in a controversy involving racial discrimination. In a behind-the-scenes clip of aespa dancing and singing along to the song “Love Galore,” as the only one who knew the lyrics, Giselle casually sang along but failed to realize she sang a line containing the “N-word.”

Controversial Nationalism: Ningning once unexpectedly faced significant criticism in South Korea. The reason was, during the worldwide excitement over the results of the speed skating event at the Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China,  Ningning sent a message in Chinese on the Bubble platform to congratulate the gold medalists from her homeland. Interestingly, the perplexing failure of the South Korean team at that year’s Olympics made  Ningning’s Bubble update become “ill-timed.” Knetizens directed their anger towards the youngest member of the aespa as a manifestation of frustration towards the national team.

Attitude Controversy: When aespa was present in France to attend Paris Fashion Week 2022, fans lined up, standing in anticipation outside the hotel where aespa was staying. While the three members Giselle, Winter, and Karina continuously waved, smiled, and bid farewell to fans, the youngest member  Ningning ignored them, even covering her ears with her hands until getting into the car. The idol not only covered her ears but also wore a displeased expression, crossing her arms in frustration while sitting in the car and disregarding fans when they called her name.

Dating (Rumors + Confirmed)

In February 2024, Dispatch reported that Karina was dating Lee Jae-wook. Accordingly, the two first met at a Prada event in Milan and fell in love with each other. An official from Lee Jae-wook’s agency, C-JeS, then told Newsen, “The two are now getting to know each other, and since the actor is in the middle of filming and it is his private life, we ask you to treat him with warm eyes and respect.” SM Entertainment also confirmed the relationship in a later report.

However, the couple ended up separating after just 5 months of dating. 

Prior to Lee Jae-wook, Karina was rumored to date Stray Kids’ Hyunjin and NCT’s Jungwoo, among others – the details of which can be read in full in the profile of Karina.

aespa’s Official Discography (Not including solo/sub-unit/unofficial releases)

Korean

Studio albums

• Armageddon (2024)

Mini albums

• Savage (2021)
• Girls (2022)
• My World (2023)
• Drama (2023)

Digital singles

• Black Mamba (2020)
• Forever (2021)
• Next Level (2021)
• Dreams Come True (2021)
• Welcome To My World (2023)
• Drama (Sped Up Ver.) (2023)
• Regret of the Times (2024 aespa Remake Version)” (2024)
• Supernova (2024)

Remix singles

• iScreaM Vol.10 : Next Level Remixes” (2021)
• iScreaM Vol.18 : Girls Remixes (2022)
• iScreaM Vol.26 : Spicy Remix (2023)

Collaborations

• Beautiful Christmas (with Red Velvet) (2022)

OSTs

• Pokémon OST (2023) (“We Go”) (2023)

English

Digital singles

• Life’s Too Short (2022)
• Better Things (2023)
• Better Things (Sped Up + Slowed Down) (2023)
• Jingle Bell Rock (2023)
• Jingle Bell Rock (Sped Up Ver.) (2023)

Remix singles

• Better Things (Tropkillaz Remix) (2023)
• Better Things (RAYE Remix) (2023)
• Better Things (Dance Remix) (2023)

OSTs

• Tetris (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (“Hold On Tight”) (2023)
• Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock – Season 2 (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack) (“Get Goin'”) (2024)
• Songs of the Rebellion (“Die Trying”) (2024)

Japanese

OSTs

• Zoom Zoom (2023)

Source: Wikia