KARINA Surfs in Malibu, Recalling Senior Group f(x)'s Song

Group aespa's KARINA enjoyed surfing at Malibu beach in California, United States, evoking the song "Hot Summer" by her senior group f(x) from SM Entertainment. She actually visited the Malibu beach mentioned in "Hot Summer," which was released in 2011, to ride the waves. It is as if a junior singer has personally set foot in a location from a song released 15 years ago. KARINA expressed her admiration, saying, "The lyrics didn't come out for no reason," and provided laughs with her pleasant surfing review.

On the 10th, KARINA revealed footage of herself learning to surf in Malibu, California, United States, on her SNS. Wearing a black surfing suit, she shared her time there through several photos, such as standing on the beach holding a board or sitting on a board while receiving lessons. She expressed her excitement for her first surfing attempt by leaving captions like "I tried surfing" and "In Malibu, of all places."

The reason this post is even more interesting is that it goes beyond a simple verification of an overseas trip and evokes memories of K-pop. Facing the dazzling sunlight and waves of Malibu, KARINA naturally thought of f(x)'s "Hot Summer." This song, released in June 2011, contains the lyrics, "Even if it's not Malibu beach." Mentioning that specific phrase, KARINA wrote, "The lyrics didn't come out for no reason." Looking at the actual Malibu beach, she also described it as "Truly dazzling waves."

Tracing the flow of time makes this an even more peculiar scene. KARINA, born in April 2000, was only 11 years old when f(x) released "Hot Summer." At that time, Malibu was just a phrase in a senior group's song, but 15 years later, it became a place she visited personally to enjoy surfing. After debuting as a member of aespa in 2020, KARINA has grown into a K-pop star active on the global stage. A junior singer has continued the scenery drawn by a senior group through actual experience.

KARINA's honest reaction to her first surfing experience also drew attention. In a photo where she received a Barbie board, she humorously expressed a beginner's tension with the phrase, "Becoming demure for no reason." In the moment of waiting for a small wave, she left a witty expression that naturally connected her musical identity to the moment of her trip, writing, "Big wave, big wave, don't avoid it," reminiscent of aespa's hit songs.

After succeeding in surfing, even more honest reviews followed. KARINA wrote, "I succeeded, but I fell in like TT, so cut," revealing both the joy of successful surfing and her clumsy moments. Rather than showing only perfectly cool images, her tendency to use her mistakes as material for laughter added a sense of friendliness. This is a different charm from her charismatic performances on stage.

This visit to Malibu naturally brings to mind the generational shift in K-pop and the memories left by music. f(x)'s "Hot Summer" is remembered as a song that symbolizes summer, and as the location mentioned in that song connects to a junior singer's actual trip, it created another story. Of course, it has not been confirmed whether KARINA's surfing was planned for the song, but it added special fun in that she personally recalled and mentioned the lyrics.

KARINA, who has now personally visited Malibu from the song of 15 years ago to ride the waves. Her post, which commemorates the music of her senior group while recording new experiences in her own way, became a welcome connection for fans. With her pleasant wit as a surfing beginner added to this, the trip drew attention as a moment where the past and present of K-pop meet, going beyond a simple verification of a vacation.

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