aespa’s Karina has addressed the growing online controversy surrounding her close friendship with actress Han Soo A after the latter received harsh criticism from some fans for publicly discussing their relationship.
The singer took to the fan communication platform Bubble to share a heartfelt message, emphasizing that her family, friends, fellow members, and fans are all equally precious to her.
The controversy began after Han Soo A appeared on the YouTube series There Is a Letter Between Us 2 on November 10.
During the episode, the actress wrote a letter to Karina and shared personal memories about their friendship, including how they first met, how quickly they became close, and the time they spent together outside their professional schedules.
Although the video offered viewers a glimpse into Karina’s life away from the spotlight, it also triggered criticism directed at Han Soo A.
Some internet users accused the actress of repeatedly mentioning Karina to gain attention and questioned why she was sharing so many private details about their friendship.
As the criticism continued spreading across social media, Karina decided to address the situation through a message to her fans on November 11.
Karina Shares Heartfelt Message Amid Backlash
In her Bubble message, Karina explained that she had thought carefully before deciding to speak about the situation.
Without directly naming Han Soo A or addressing individual comments, she made it clear that the people close to her are important and that she does not want anyone to become a target of criticism.
Karina wrote:
“And I debated whether to say this, but MYs, my family, friends, and members are all precious to me, and I hope no one gets hurt.
My love is not one-sided, and I believe I receive as much love as I give.
I am happy to be loved, and I don’t take that happiness for granted.
I don’t want anyone to be blamed. Let’s continue to see each other for a long time and share our stories for many years to come.”
Her message was interpreted by many as a request to stop directing negativity towards Han Soo A.
However, her response also generated mixed reactions among fans, with some expressing disappointment that she had not directly addressed their concerns.
Certain online comments suggested that Karina’s message appeared to defend her friend rather than acknowledge the feelings of fans who were uncomfortable with the public discussion of their friendship.
Others argued that she should not have to justify her personal relationships or choose between her friends and supporters.
How Karina and Han Soo A Became Close Friends
During her YouTube appearance, Han Soo A revealed that she first met Karina through ITZY’s Ryujin.
The actress had previously met Ryujin at a screening of her film Noise, and the two later connected with Karina during a gathering at Ryujin’s home.
Han explained that Karina was the one who initially asked for her contact information.
Their conversations soon revealed similarities in their personalities, values, sense of humour, and interests, allowing them to develop a close friendship in a relatively short period.
Despite knowing each other for just over a year, the two reportedly became so close that they met almost every day for a period of time.
Han also shared that Karina would sometimes visit her home after finishing her professional schedules so they could have dinner together.
The actress had previously been careful about mentioning Karina publicly because she did not want to create an uncomfortable situation for her famous friend.
She also revealed that she had received Karina’s permission before appearing on the YouTube program.
In fact, Karina reportedly agreed enthusiastically and personally selected photographs of their shared memories for the episode.
Han Soo A’s letter also described how Karina had supported her during difficult moments.
She recalled becoming emotional when Karina visited her home on a particularly challenging day, expressing gratitude for the comfort and friendship she had received.
While the online reaction has been divided, many viewers have defended Han Soo A, arguing that sharing memories about a close friend should not invite personal attacks.
Karina’s message has further highlighted her wish to protect the important relationships in her life without allowing the controversy to hurt anyone.
