aespa’s Karina “Robbed” Of Major Opportunity By SM Entertainment, Sparking Outrage
The announcement of a year-end special stage featuring aespa Karina’s solo hit “UP” is sparking more backlash than excitement.
MBC recently announced that Hearts2Hearts member Ian will join izna’s Bang Jeemin and ILLIT‘s Wonhee for a special stage at the 2025 MBC Gayo Daejejeon. For her part of the performance, Ian will be covering “UP” by her company senior, Karina.
While many are celebrating the news and looking forward to Ian’s performance, numerous fans are slamming SM Entertainment over the decision.
“UP” first debuted during the opening of aespa’s second concert tour, SYNK: PARALLEL LINE, back in June 2024. The track quickly went viral with dance covers and challenges flooding social media, and when it was finally released on streaming platforms in October, it immediately skyrocketed on the charts.
“UP” went on to give Karina her first music show award and first RAK (Real Time All-Kill) as a soloist and received nominations at multiple award shows this year.
However, Karina is yet to perform the track on a major stage herself. To date, she has only performed “UP” during aespa’s own concerts, along with a stage at WATERBOMB Seoul earlier this year. Now, many are furious at the agency for giving the opportunity to another group, especially after failing to capitalize on the song’s success in fans’ eyes.
fuck ass SM not letting karina perform her solo song that literally charted and won at a music show but they let another artist from their company perform karina’s song???? FUCK YOU, YOU STINGY ASS BITCHES @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/IMVlACWaE5
— ♡ (@for_yjm) December 27, 2025
it’s not only a song. karina wrote it by herself, give her idea and concept. the song got so many achievements with ZERO promo, and sm don’t even knowledge and congratulate her. but they used it to push rookie, when karina never performs it on mushow/festival. https://t.co/IbJAwYKwKI
— reu (@kariyoong) December 27, 2025
So many different songs that Ian could have covered and they had to choose the one song that Karina herself has never officially performed on stage before. SM always finds new ways to piss everyone off https://t.co/t1HQQVfmX5
— 🌿 🎸 (@aentivenom) December 27, 2025
and she never got anything from the company. now another girl from a rookie group in the same company gets a special stage with HER song. karina, let’s not sign that contract renewal!
— ꨄ︎ (@rinaszen) December 27, 2025
The move follows the 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon earlier this week. At the event, Hearts2Hearts performed aespa’s second most recent song, “Dirty Work,” alongside their own track “Focus” while aespa performed “Rich Man.”
While the rookie group received a great reception for their impressive cover, many fans are concerned that SM Entertainment is starting a pattern of downplaying aespa. On top of this, several have noted that aespa’s own requests for special stages at this year’s events were rejected by the company.
the girls themselves requested for special stage and got rejected by the company but a junior got to perform up before karina.… this company is a joke
— 👽 (@icurina) December 27, 2025
I think its quite obvious that SM no longer has any interest in treating aespa well or protecting them they’re only using them to fund budgets for their juniors’ cbs It’s so tiring to see SM keep suppressing their potential eventhough aespa is the one keeping the lights on for SM
— aebin (@notyujibin131) December 27, 2025
The whole thing is even crazier when you remember aespa’s requests for doing special stages this year were denied by the company 💀
— 🎸 (@myaespadolls) December 27, 2025
SM shamelessly shoving aespa like this to the back like first its dirty work (NOT EVEN A YR OLD SONG YET) and now UP 🤣🤣🤣🤣 karina never even got a chance to perform this BRO. let these girls get their own fanbase dont use aespa like this https://t.co/0jRFFAko3K
— wy (@synkbone) December 27, 2025
The same backlash is also bubbling up among Korean fans, with many expressing outrage at Karina’s lack of opportunities to perform the song herself.
Alongside Hearts2Hearts, aespa will also be appearing at the 2025 MBC Gayo Daejejeon on December 31 with a pre-recorded performance, due to the group’s upcoming appearance at the 76th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in Japan on the same day. As of now, aespa’s MBC Gayo setlist is currently unconfirmed.
