2024 has been a breakthrough year not only for the K-pop industry but also for aespa. Following “Drama” at the end of 2023, SM Entertainment’s girl group made a grand comeback with “Supernova” and the album “Armageddon”. Riding the momentum of their recent hit “Whiplash”, the four members dominated the entertainment scene throughout the year. Among them, Karina stands out as the most recognizable and popular member.
According to data reports, Karina, born in 2000, was the most-searched female idol on YouTube Korea and Naver in 2024, surpassing Jang Wonyoung. She also holds the title of the most-followed 4th-gen female idol on Instagram. With such massive influence, every move related to Karina is closely watched by netizens.
Recently, the female idol sent social media into a frenzy with her unexpected and nearly unbelievable transformation. During aespa’s “Synk: Parallel Line” concert in London, the group delivered a series of visually stunning and spectacular performances. However, the spotlight was on Karina, who appeared with a fuller, healthier figure.
While some initially suspected this to be a result of Photoshop, a fan shared an unedited video capturing the moment, confirming the change was real. Karina’s form-fitting white outfit, made of thin material, further accentuated her naturally curvier physique.
Some pointed out that Karina’s small, oval-shaped face often draws attention away from her body, creating an illusion of a slimmer frame. However, in reality, since the “Drama” era, the SM beauty has been steadily gaining weight in a healthy way, balancing a well-rounded diet with regular workouts to achieve her current radiant, well-proportioned figure.
Looking back to aespa’s debut days, Karina had a much slimmer, petite physique. This transformation is seen as her way of challenging the beauty standards imposed on female idols. The overwhelmingly positive response from netizens reflects a shift in public perception, showing a more accepting and open-minded attitude compared to previous years.
Netizens left comments such as “She looks even more beautiful with a fuller figure“, “This is the kind of body that actually looks healthy, rather than K-pop’s extreme beauty standards“, “Karina is literally a goddess“…
Meanwhile, aespa’s “Synk: Parallel Line” world tour resumed at the end of January after a four-month hiatus. Following their upcoming European stops, the four girls will wrap up this musical journey with two encore concerts in Seoul at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, which holds up to 15,000 spectators.
