MUSINSA has announced KARINA as the new ambassador for MUSINSA Beauty. According to the company, KARINA was chosen for her bold and daring beauty, which perfectly reflects the image the brand aims to convey. The partnership will include the showcase “MUSINSA Beauty with KARINA”, featuring videos and photoshoots available from August 19 to September 8.

The charismatic leader of aespa, KARINA, recently shared unique and revealing moments in an interview for the August edition of W Korea magazine. In a relaxed and sincere conversation, KARINA spoke about the experience of being on a world tour, her personal and professional challenges, and how she has evolved both as an artist and as an individual. Additionally, the interview was accompanied by a stunning photo shoot in partnership with PRADA.

You must have almost fainted from exhaustion last night. You just finished the Seoul performance of your second world tour, ‘SYNK: PARALLEL LINE’, right?
That’s right. The world tour, which will continue until early next year, has just kicked off. After the performance yesterday, we all had a meal together.
What was on the menu for the dinner?
It had to be samgyeopsal, of course. We ate a lot, really, a ridiculous amount (laughs).
It’s been exactly a year since the last world tour, ‘SYNK: HYPER LINE’. If this were a game, it would be the ‘Round Two’. Did you definitely feel the growth this time?
Absolutely. During the first concert, it felt like I was just following directions. But this time, it’s hard to find any part I didn’t actively participate in. We even worked on the set list together and were deeply involved in the stage direction. For my solo stage, it was initially planned to be just choreography, but I suggested adding silhouette cuts at the last minute. It was an addition made on the day of the rehearsal. It must have been a difficult request, but I’m grateful they accepted it well.
The stage video of your solo song ‘Up’ from this concert has become a hot topic on YouTube. One comment in particular is receiving a lot of support: ‘SM should release the track soon’
Haha, it seems like the company has a positive view on it as well. Not just my solo stage, but the other members’ solo stages are also so well-received that I think there will be discussions about how to release them in the future. I took on old-school hip-hop for the first time with Up, and it’s a genre I’ve really wanted to try for a long time. I’ve mostly worked with EDM genres until now, and I especially love hip-hop dance. It felt like the choreographer was really determined with the dance this time—like, ‘Alright, we’ve set the stage, now smash it with the dance!’
This year, you’re touring 14 cities, and you’ll expand to the Americas and Europe early next year. In a way, you’re at the starting line of a long race
That’s right. I’m already missing Korean food and feeling a bit anxious about how busy it will be, but once I’m abroad, I’m actually the type who enjoys playing around the most. I make sure to go out and explore whenever I have free time. My manager ends up working hard because of me.
What do you usually do for fun?
I’m the type to visit all the famous tourist spots in that country. Sometimes, when my manager tells me to avoid crowded tourist areas, I cheerfully reply, “Then I’ll do my hair and makeup myself and go out looking pretty!” (laughs)
In the documentary about your first world tour, ‘SYNK: HYPER LINE’, there’s an interesting moment where you say right before going on stage, “Please let me perform with dignity.” What did you mean by a dignified performance at that time?
I get incredibly nervous every time I perform. I often have sweaty palms from the tension and joke with the members backstage saying, “Should I just run away?” When I’m nervous, my mind goes blank, so I tend to practice twice as hard as others. On the first day of last year’s world tour, I made a lot of mistakes on stage. It was so stressful that I stayed up monitoring until dawn and went on stage the next day like a person who had been awakened. I feel like I need to be dignified and confident in myself to perform on stage. That way, I can enjoy the performance a bit more.
In past interviews, you mentioned that the debut stage with ‘Black Mamba’ was the most dignified performance for you
Looking back now, I’m still a bit dissatisfied with it. But at that time, I think it was the best we could do. Since it was during the pandemic, we had to perform with only the camera lights on us and no audience. I still remember the pressure we felt. As the first girl group from SM in six years, we were under a lot of scrutiny. It felt like we had to prove something with that stage. Looking back at our debut stage now, the dance moves and gestures seem a bit embarrassing, but I really love the atmosphere of that time. I can sense the determination from the members. Watching the video, some of us are even bleeding because our skin rubbed against the stage outfits. But even that looks so beautiful to me. It makes me think, “Aww, you did great.”
Can a dignified performance be described as a stage where you are not ashamed of yourself?
Yes. In fact, there have been many performances I felt embarrassed about. Stages where I missed notes or made mistakes in the choreography. Even if these errors might be forgotten by others over time, I remember them. When my family watches those performance videos, I say, “Please watch them when I’m not around!” One mistake feels so significant to me that it drives me to strive for more perfection.
Do you tend to set high standards for yourself?
It seems so. I used to struggle quite a bit with this. I’m very harsh on myself but quite lenient with others. Even when I faced situations where others caused me harm, I would quietly endure it alone. But recently, I feel like I’ve been changing in a healthier direction. Now, I say no when something isn’t right, and I try to express my emotions as openly as possible.
What was the catalyst for this change?
It’s largely thanks to the members. All four of us are very honest with each other. We share our true feelings without hesitation, including things like what we dislike, what we’d like to change, and even feedback on how our expressions look on stage. If there’s jealousy, we talk about it openly, expressing what we envy about each other. We’re also very straightforward with the staff we work with. As a result, they take great care of us. Senior colleagues even say that finding staff like ours is rare. I think this supportive environment has been the main factor in my change.
Recently, your first full-length album activities have successfully wrapped up. Since it was your debut full-length album, it must have been prepared with a level of intensity different from usual
Yes, exactly. Just look at the music video for Armageddon… (laughs).
Almost every second of the music video was filled with CGI, and there was even a comment saying, “I bought the album because I felt bad for watching it for free”
(laughs) Yes, that’s right. It was the longest shoot for a music video we’ve done. I think it took about 4 to 5 days. We’re very grateful. After all, the company believed in us and made bold investments in terms of both cost and quality. The preparation for this album was definitely different. There were many meetings, and we prepared in a more systematic and focused way than ever before. We had double title tracks, and I was happy with how Supernova turned out fresh and new, and Armageddon met our expectations.
Recently, you appeared on a YouTube web show and said, “I didn’t expect ‘Supernova’ to be this popular,” which sparked a lot of buzz
Before the album was released, the members had a discussion. We thought that Supernova would be popular with the general public and that Armageddon would be appreciated by our peers in the industry. We anticipated that the reactions to the two tracks would be quite different. Supernova, with its fresh elements both in listening and viewing, would likely receive a response of “It’s fun,” while Armageddon, with its impressive choreography, sound, and CGI, would catch the interest of industry insiders. Both are great, but as artists, we naturally had a stronger attachment to Armageddon.
Did you discover anything new from this activity?
Since debut, our world view has been clear. While it’s great that our world view has become a defining color for us, sometimes it felt like we were confined by it. Some people might see us as only capable of playing within this world view. However, during the Spicy promotions last year, I felt a sort of refreshment. It was like we had been stuck in the avatar world and suddenly landed in the real world for a bit. The Spicy activities broadened our perspective. Since then, we’ve been more actively involved in the production process, suggesting ideas like, “How about incorporating this into our world view?” or “Would this sound make it feel more like us?” With this year’s Armageddon activities, I feel we have a clearer understanding of our team’s identity. I no longer doubt it. There’s a strong belief that “Since we’re doing it, it’s our music.”
The reason I liked Armageddon was because it showed a certain resolve. These days, easy-listening music is mainstream in the K-pop scene, but aespa seems to push forward with the intense ‘metal flavor’ they’ve maintained since debut
Yes, we’re definitely on our own path (laughs). I don’t think we need to give up our unique style. With this belief, if we continue on our own path, I believe there will definitely be people who follow us. And the ‘metal flavor’ concept is really what we do best. If we suddenly came back with a pure concept one day, it might feel awkward for everyone. To be honest, we’re not great at smiling sweetly at the camera. We’re always more into giving intense looks… (laughs).
Haha, recently you’ve been quite active on variety shows. You’ve appeared on web variety shows as well as the Netflix original show ‘Agents of Mystery’ that was released in June, right?
I really love variety shows. I’ve been hooked on TV since I was young and was a ‘variety kid.’ I enjoy meeting people, being active, and talking—all of it.
Anyway, variety shows often reveal more of your true self compared to the stage. Maybe that’s why there are so many comments praising your friendly personality. The comment ‘Karina gained popularity not just for her looks but for her personality’ got the most ‘likes,’ you know?
I’m blushing just thinking about it, not sure where to look…(laughs). My personality has changed a lot. I used to be really shy and would only answer questions asked to me. But at some point, I became more outgoing. All the members’ MBTI types started with the extroverted ‘E,’ but eventually, one by one, they became introverted ‘I,’ and now I’m the only ‘E’ type left. Since then, I feel like I have this strong urge to make everyone laugh! I often find myself dancing, making jokes, and singing in front of the three introverted members (laughs).
Haha, among fans, you’re known as ‘Kasujong.’ Seeing how much you care for and think of your fans, they compare you to the actor Choi Su-jong, who is famous for his devotion to his fans
I’m a true ‘Pink Blood’ at heart. I’ve been a huge fan of SM since I was young, which is why I joined the company. I was a massive fan of Girls’ Generation, f(x), and Red Velvet, so I understand what it’s like to be a fan. I know how those unnies made me go ‘Ah! Oppa!’ when they approached us, and that’s why I feel like I can connect well with our fans.
When you communicate with fans on the platform ‘Bubble,’ it gives the impression that you’re trying to connect as ‘Yoo Jimin’ rather than just as the musician ‘Karina’
That’s right. While I’m active as KARINA, my life as Yoo Jimin is much longer. I want to subtly remind fans of that fact and also hope they see me as an individual, not just as KARINA.
What do you consider the most important value in your life as both Karina and Yoo Jimin?
Myself. I always think about what makes me happy in what I do.
When your values waver, what has held you steady as Karina?
My mom. She’s a nurse, but her original dream was to be a poet. She reads a lot and sends me books every month. One of my most treasured times is reading books with her and discussing them. She also writes me letters frequently, always reminding me, “Family is always on your side. Even though we spend less time together physically, you are always in our conversations. Never forget that you always have a place to come back to.”
Is there a recent book you’ve read with your mom that stands out?
Yes, “The Kitchen of Sixteen Nights”. It’s a Chinese novel with a unique premise. After death, everyone passes through a place called the “Hell’s Kitchen,” where you can order any food you craved most in life. While reading, I couldn’t help but think of my mom’s spicy shellfish noodles. It’s a bowl made with love and plenty of my favorite water celery. Nothing supports me as much as family does. Even when I’m struggling, I remind myself, “I am loved,” and “I am important.”
It’s full-blown summer now. Do you have any dream vacation plans?
I’m planning to go to Jeju Island. I’ve only been there once before, and that was a trip with my dad before debut. We did the usual things like seeing camellias, eating black pork, and riding horses, and I have great memories from that trip. This time, I’d like to stay in a guesthouse where I can mingle with other travelers. If timing works out, it would be great to go with the members, or even just with my sister.
Today, you wore outfits from the 2024 Prada F/W collection for your shoot. If you could take one piece from today’s outfits on vacation, which one would it be?
I’d choose the pink-toned oversized shirt. It seems perfect for a vacation spot. It would look great just draped over, or even worn open over a swimsuit.
What is the question you find yourself asking most often these days?
“How can I be happier?” I’m constantly searching for the answer. Since I have a job where I stand in front of many people, I want to find that answer quickly and share it with everyone.

Earlier on April 16th, KARINA was photographed arriving at KBS2 studios for the recording of the new variety show Synchro You, where she will be one of the MCs. The show is scheduled to be broadcast twice on May 10 and May 18.

Earlier on April 9th, KARINA and WINTER were photographed at Gimpo International Airport. They were returning from Japan after finishing their overseas schedule.