Karina Swiftly Deletes Post After Unexpected Political Controversy: Netizens’ Reactions
On May 27, Karina shared a series of photos from her trip to Japan. In one of the images, she wore a bright red jacket featuring the number “2”, a combination that, amid the ongoing election period, was quickly interpreted by some online users as a visual reference to a specific political party.
In South Korea, red and the number 2 are widely associated with conservative factions, particularly during election campaigns. Comments on the post rapidly escalated, with users saying things like:
“Patriotic conservative Karina.”
“Karina is definitely No. 2.”
“I’m a fan from today.”
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Others criticized Karina for failing to consider the timing, calling her post “careless” in light of the politically sensitive climate. With debate intensifying, Karina deleted the post shortly after uploading it to prevent further misinterpretation.
Netizens’ Reacts: Confusion and Frustration
On the Korean community forum theqoo, a trending post dissected the origins of the jacket, questioning whether the design might also resemble the Rising Sun Flag — a symbol of Japanese militarism. One user wrote:
“How is this a Rising Sun Flag? There’s not even a red circle.”
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The thread quickly filled with reactions highlighting the ambiguity of the controversy:
- “It’s impossible to tell if it was an honest mistake or intentional.”
- “Whether it was or wasn’t, it’s disappointing either way — just in different ways.”
- “Calling her political over this is just legendary — in a ridiculous way.”
- “Are these comments even real? This is insane.”
No Official Statement Yet
As of now, SM Entertainment has not issued an official response regarding the incident. While many netizens have come to Karina’s defense, others argue that the episode serves as a reminder of how even seemingly minor fashion choices can trigger widespread scrutiny — especially during election season.
Karina’s quick action to remove the post underscores the growing pressure on public figures to navigate social media with extreme caution in today’s digitally charged and politically sensitive environment.