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

Actress Han Soo-ah has received malicious comments in Korean, English, and Chinese after discussing her close friendship with aespa's KARINA on the YouTube show "There Is a Letter Between Us 2." While Han Soo-ah expressed gratitude for KARINA's support during difficult times, some netizens accused her of using the idol for self-promotion.

Actress Han Soo-ah is facing an unexpected barrage of malicious comments after revealing a special friendship with aespa's KARINA. Following her decision to share memories of her close friend on a broadcast, some netizens have criticized her as "selling KARINA," leading to growing controversy over excessive interference in the two women's friendship.

On the 11th, comments questioning Han Soo-ah's mention of her friendship with KARINA appeared on Han Soo-ah's Instagram. Some users criticized her, suggesting she was "constantly mentioning KARINA's name for self-promotion" and telling her to "stop selling KARINA." Beyond simple criticism, attacks on Han Soo-ah continued with claims that she was using KARINA to gain fame.

The malicious comments were written not only in Korean but also in English and Chinese. One user left a message in English suggesting that KARINA should not be used as a means to gain fame. Some even went as far as to demand, "Just cut ties with KARINA." These reactions represent an intrusion into their actual relationship, moving beyond mere criticism of revealing a personal friendship.

The controversy began when Han Soo-ah introduced KARINA as her best friend on the YouTube variety show "There Is a Letter Between Us 2," which was released the previous day. Through a letter written directly to KARINA, Han Soo-ah sincerely conveyed their friendship and the comfort she received from her during difficult times. In a touching moment, she recalled a day when she burst into tears as soon as KARINA opened the front door of her house, expressing her gratitude by saying, "Jimin, you saved me so much without even knowing it."

The connection between the two began when they first met at the home of ITZY member RYUJIN. As they were parting ways, KARINA was the one who first asked for Han Soo-ah's contact information, and since then, the two have become close enough to meet almost every day for about a year. It reportedly became a natural part of their daily routine for KARINA to stop by Han Soo-ah's house for dinner after finishing her schedule. Their special friendship has continued through shared daily lives, moving beyond the relationship between a glamorous idol on stage and an actress.

Han Soo-ah stated that she had been careful about mentioning KARINA's name publicly in the past, fearing it might be burdensome for her. She explained that she had even asked for KARINA's understanding prior to appearing on the broadcast. This emphasizes that she considered the other person's position even while revealing their friendship.

It is reported that KARINA also readily accepted Han Soo-ah's appearance on the show and even personally selected and sent photos to be used in the broadcast. The two shared memories through photos, such as the day they went hiking in pajamas and the day they visited a zoo. KARINA reportedly helped her friend's broadcast meticulously by adding explanations of the situations and memories to each photo.

As Han Soo-ah's sincere stories expressing gratitude and affection for her friend have instead become targets for malicious comments, a debate is unfolding online regarding celebrities revealing their personal connections. While the act of introducing a private friendship on a broadcast has been linked to accusations of promotional intent, some point out that the demands to sever their relationship constitute excessive interference. The long-standing friendship between the two adds to the sadness as it becomes embroiled in malicious comments.

Read the original (Korean)