On June 10, Karina shared several departure photos taken at Incheon International Airport on her social media and clarified the situation. She wrote, “Because of an allergy, I had to frown so it wouldn’t show as much, so I couldn’t help walking around with that expression. I feel upset about it.”

She added, “I really liked my hair and makeup today too. I’ll be back. Fighting!”

Earlier that day, Karina and fellow aespa member Winter departed for Mexico to attend a cheering event related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While the two stars greeted reporters with bright smiles, Karina appeared to be frowning in some photos, sparking curiosity among fans.

Karina also addressed the issue again through a fan communication platform, reassuring fans and explaining, “On the way to the airport, an allergy suddenly flared up on my face. My forehead and cheeks became bumpy, and my skin condition wasn’t great.” She continued, “I realized it was less noticeable when I frowned, so I kept making that expression. Please don’t misunderstand—it was only to hide the allergy.”

Meanwhile, aespa released their second full-length album Lemonade on May 29. According to the June second-week update of the U.S. Billboard chart released on June 9 (local time), the group entered the Billboard 200 at No. 9, marking their third Top 10 achievement overall.

Sources: Nate