Karina, one of the most beloved female K-pop idols among Korean male fans, has unexpectedly found herself caught in a political controversy. The issue began when she uploaded a photo to her Instagram channel—a photo that, without any preconceptions, simply shows the beautiful Karina, stunning as always.
However, when seen through a certain political lens, things start to look different.
The jacket she's wearing has striking red accents and a large number "2" printed on the left side. To some viewers, it resembled an official outfit designed for political activities, especially considering that South Korea is currently holding its 21st presidential election. In this context, the number "2" and the color red are closely associated with the 'People Power Party' (국민의힘), the conservative political party that uses red as its signature color and is listed as candidate number 2 on the ballot.
Due to this, Karina quickly became the center of an unexpected debate. She deleted the photo shortly after posting it, likely to prevent the issue from growing further. Nevertheless, given her high profile as one of Korea’s hottest idols, online forums and media outlets were already ablaze with opinions. Even the brand of the jacket she wore suddenly became a trending topic.
The Brand Behind Karina's Controversial Jacket: Vaquera
The red jacket with the number "2" that Karina wore is from a New York-based brand called Vaquera, known for its fusion of fashion and art. The specific item is the Vaquera Windbreaker Jacket, which retails for approximately ₩930,000 (around $700 USD), a price far beyond what most people would consider affordable.
🔗 VAQUERA Logo-Print Windbreaker Red
The controversy appears to have stemmed from unfortunate timing rather than intentional messaging. It is likely that the photo was part of a sponsored shoot or was simply taken abroad and uploaded without much thought. While Karina looked cute and gorgeous as always, it seems the timing was what stirred the misunderstanding.
Barquera is an American fashion brand founded in 2013. It has been loved by K-pop celebrities for its design that subverts gender and class ideology, and Jenny once wore a short-sleeved T-shirt with the white Barquera logo over green and black stripes in the music video for "SPOT!" she sang with Zico.
