Actress Han Soo-ah faces backlash after discussing friendship with aespa's KARINA

Actress Han Soo-ah has sparked online debate following her appearance on the YouTube channel 'There Is a Letter Between Us' on the 10th. While she shared intimate details of meeting aespa's KARINA almost every day for a year, some fans criticized her for overemphasizing the connection.

Actress Han Soo-ah has found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy after revealing her deep friendship with aespa's KARINA. As she shared intimate details of their daily lives—including the fact that they met almost every day for a year and even shared a shower—some fans expressed discomfort, questioning if she was overemphasizing her connection to KARINA. Conversely, others have defended Han Soo-ah, arguing she was merely discussing a private friendship, leading to a heated debate online.

On the 10th, the YouTube channel 'There Is a Letter Between Us' released a video titled "Did anyone know Han Soo-ah and KARINA loved each other this much?" Appearing as a guest, Han Soo-ah detailed how they first met, their nearly daily encounters, and their expressions of affection for one another.

The bond between the two began through an introduction by ITZY's RYUJIN. While they initially only engaged in light conversation, they grew rapidly close after discovering many commonalities. Recalling those times, Han Soo-ah stated, "I saw her almost every day for a year." She shared a humorous anecdote where, whenever her mother asked what she was doing, she would reply she was with KARINA, prompting her mother to ask, "Isn't she busy?"

KARINA would also visit Han Soo-ah's home to have dinner together after finishing her busy schedules. Han Soo-ah described KARINA as "someone who broke the concept of an adult friend," explaining that they moved beyond being friends who simply spend time together to forming a special relationship by naturally integrating into each other's daily lives. Their friendship drew attention as they shared ordinary moments despite their different professional spheres as a famous idol and an actress.

In particular, her answer to a question about when KARINA felt they had become close garnered significant attention. Han Soo-ah revealed a conversation where she asked KARINA when she felt they had grown close. Unexpectedly, KARINA's first thought was, "When we showered together, unnie?" When Han Soo-ah asked for a response suitable for broadcast, KARINA replied, "When I wanted to keep eating meals with unnie." This suggests that the time spent sharing meals and daily life deepened their relationship.

The two also revealed a unique nickname they use for each other: "Yeobo" (honey). Han Soo-ah explained, "There were times when she was working and I was at home when we saw each other every day. I said, 'Yeobo, why are you coming so late? I've made soybean paste soup,' and she seemed to like that." The nickname emerged naturally from the ordinary routine of waiting for one another and sharing meals.

Han Soo-ah noted that she has been cautious about publicly mentioning her friendship with KARINA. "Since she is a superstar, I thought it might be uncomfortable for her to be mentioned somewhere," she explained, prioritizing her famous friend's position. It was reported that she even contacted KARINA in advance to ask for understanding before mentioning her name in the video.

However, following the video's release, Han Soo-ah's social media comment sections were flooded with criticism regarding her mentions of the friendship. Some fans left comments such as, "Stop using her recognition," "Is being KARINA's friend the only thing you have to boast about?", "Mention your work as an actress more," "Do you want to be mentioned as KARINA's friend?", "Stop mentioning her so much," and "Stop the KARINA-selling." The criticism appears rooted in concerns that by overemphasizing her relationship with KARINA, Han Soo-ah's own identity and acting career might be overshadowed.

On the other hand, counterarguments have been raised that the criticism against Han Soo-ah is excessive. Many fans defended her, commenting, "This is truly being extra," "What on earth is the problem?", "Do you have to lie to hide that you are close?", and "It's good to see a friendship." They argue that fans interfering in private human relationships is excessive interference and that there is no reason to take issue with sharing memories of a close friend. In particular, some noted that since Han Soo-ah sought prior permission from KARINA, the argument for criticism is weak as communication between the two had occurred.

This controversy highlights both the way celebrity names are used to increase content engagement and the issue of revealing the private relationships of entertainers. The debate pits the concern that Han Soo-ah's acting activities may be relatively obscured while discussing her friendship with KARINA against the counterargument that criticizing the act of revealing a friendship is excessive.

Above all, the stories Han Soo-ah shared in the video were closer to feelings of affection and gratitude for a long-time friend rather than using a relationship with a famous celebrity. The specific anecdotes of eating meals together every day, waiting for each other, and exchanging nicknames showed how ordinary their friendship was. Nevertheless, because KARINA's name was mentioned publicly, opinions remain divided even within the fandom.

As the sincere confession to a friend has escalated into a debate over "friendship-selling," discussions continue regarding the appropriate boundary between revealing private relationships as content and how fans perceive such actions. The controversy leaves behind a significance greater than a simple disclosure of friendship, as the freedom to naturally speak of friendship clashes with the need for caution when using a celebrity's name.

Read the original (Korean)