Karina Urges Kindness After Han Su-a Faces Backlash

The aespa member said fans, members, family and friends are all precious to her, sharing a message after criticism targeted her actress friend.

aespa’s Karina has asked that nobody close to her be hurt, sharing a message about the importance of fans, family and friendship after actress Han Su-a received malicious comments following an interview about their relationship. Her words focused on the people she values rather than singling out anyone for criticism, emphasizing that affection for one part of her life does not diminish another.

According to News1, Karina sent the message through the fan communication platform Bubble on November 11, saying she had thought carefully about whether to speak. She described MY, aespa’s fandom, alongside her members, family and friends as people who are all precious to her, expressing the hope that none of them would be wounded.

Han Su-a discusses her friendship with Karina on the YouTube program “There Is a Letter Between Us.” / YouTube channel “우리 사이엔 편지가 있다,” via News1

A Message About Making Room for Everyone

Karina’s message addressed the idea that her care might lean toward one group of people at the expense of another. According to News1, she said her love was not weighted toward only one side and that she felt she received as much affection as she gave, acknowledging the happiness that support brings her.

She also said she did not take that happiness lightly and hoped that nobody would become a target, before looking toward a lasting relationship with fans through continued conversation. The emphasis was on preserving those connections, giving her message a broader frame than a direct exchange with particular commenters.

Sports Kyunghyang noted that Karina did not explicitly name Han Su-a or the controversy in the message. The outlet interpreted her words in the context of the criticism surrounding her friend, an important distinction when describing what she actually said and how the timing has been understood.

The Interview That Put Their Friendship in the Spotlight

The attention followed Han’s appearance on the YouTube program hosted by writer Lee Seul-ah, whose Korean title translates to “There Is a Letter Between Us.” News1’s separate coverage of the interview identifies the video as a November 10 upload, in which Han chose Karina as the friend she wanted to write to.

According to News1, Han described a friendship woven into ordinary routines, with Karina visiting her home after schedules to share a meal. She also spoke about the closeness of their circle, including their mutual friend Ryujin, saying the three affectionately call one another “yeobo,” a Korean term commonly used between spouses.

Those details presented their bond through everyday companionship, rather than a formal collaboration or joint appearance. In the account Han shared, eating together and spending time at home were the familiar habits through which the friendship had become part of daily life.

After the video appeared, some social media users left malicious comments on Han’s account asking her to stop mentioning Karina, according to News1. The report describes the behavior of a subset of commenters, without establishing how widespread those views were among aespa’s fandom.

A personal photograph appears during Han Su-a’s interview about her friendship with Karina. / YouTube channel “우리 사이엔 편지가 있다,” via News1

What Her Wording Changes

Our reading is that the most meaningful part of Karina’s message is its refusal to rank the people around her. By naming fans, members, family and friends together, she made space for several relationships at once, rather than presenting friendship and fan support as competing demands.

That matters because the reported criticism centered on whether Han should speak publicly about their closeness. Karina’s message shifted the focus toward the effect that hostile attention can have on people, while continuing to express appreciation for the support she receives herself.

It also offers a different perspective from the public settings in which audiences usually encounter her, including her Milan Fashion Week appearance and aespa’s Los Angeles concert. Those stories center on professional appearances, while Han’s account concerned the quieter routines of friendship between schedules.

Taken together, the reported remarks give the story a clear focus: Karina expressed gratitude for being loved while asking that affection not become a reason for others to be hurt. Her message acknowledged her fans and the other people important to her within the same appeal.

Editor’s Note: Karina’s Bubble remarks are paraphrased from published reporting. She did not explicitly name Han Su-a in the message.