BTS Jungkook's apology vs aespa Karina's sorry: K-pop fans drag both over alleged 'MAGA' connection; but ARMY reacts differently

It was on June 13, 2025, that the BTS fandom, called ARMY, saw Jungkook perform on stage after a long time, as he had been enlisted in the South Korean military for his mandatory service. Having been discharged on June 11, he and the eldest member, Jin, made surprise appearances on stage at J-Hope's HOPE ON THE STAGE concert finale, which also marked BTS's debut anniversary.

As the fandom was busy showering praises on BTS and all the members who came to the venue, many didn’t even realize that a drama was unfolding on social media and various talk forums in South Korea. What drama? It was all about the cap the maknae of BTS wore during rehearsal.

What cap did Jungkook wear?

As photos of Jungkook from BTS Festa surfaced, some fans leaked images of him rehearsing for his upcoming performance. In one of those photos, K-pop fans spotted him wearing a cap with the slogan "Make Tokyo Great Again" — a phrase that drew immediate comparisons to former U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial "Make America Great Again" motto. The slogan has also been associated with Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, who has faced criticism for holding an alleged anti-Korean stance.

Credit: Instagram

While most of ARMY were initially unaware of the issue, being fully immersed in the excitement of the concert, news quickly spread once Jungkook posted a prompt apology after the event ended. In a detailed message, he directly addressed the controversy and revealed that he had already discarded the cap in question.

Acknowledging his mistake, Jungkook wrote, "I wasn’t good enough; I was careless. From now on, I will think more deeply and act more cautiously, step by step." He reassured fans and the public that the item had been "disposed of immediately." He ended his message with a sincere, "Once again, I'm sorry," expressing his willingness to accept criticism and learn from the experience.

Credit: Weverse

BTS Jungkook's apology vs aespa Karina's sorry

While many have moved on after Jungkook's apology, K-pop fans — especially those of aespa — have pointed out a stark contrast. They argued that Karina was dragged for days despite also apologizing.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Karina sparked controversy after posting a photo of herself on Instagram, wearing a black jacket with red patterns and the number 2 printed on the side. The photo, which appeared to be taken on the streets of Japan, included a single red rose emoji — with no additional context.

Though it may have seemed harmless to some, the timing and symbolism didn't go unnoticed. The image went viral during South Korea's election period as critics pointed out that the number 2 on her jacket coincided with Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party (PPP) candidate, who was listed as No. 2 on the ballot and is represented by the color red.

aespa Karina's Instagram

This led netizens to label her with politically charged nicknames like "Conservative Karina," "No. 2 Voter Karina," and "Patriotic Karina" — all terms associated with conservative voters.

Although the post was quickly deleted, the backlash was swift and intense, with many accusing her of subtly expressing political leanings — intentional or not.

ARMY give reasons why Jungkook's apology was better

After the issue escalated, Karina issued an apology. "I apologize to fans for creating this misunderstanding," Karina wrote on the paid fan platform Bubble. "I didn't have any intentions [with the post], and I will act more carefully in the future."

However, many were unhappy with the apology. First, she didn't post it on Instagram — the very platform where the controversy started. Second, the apology didn't clearly explain what exactly she was apologizing for.

As for Jungkook, many believe his apology was straightforward and timely. He addressed the situation even before it escalated further, which earned him praise for being proactive and sincere.

no because he handled it better. Next! https://t.co/7sQrGBprLw pic.twitter.com/mBhryRFmZw

the apology https://t.co/JjKiwOMWxn pic.twitter.com/A94mSmXtWU

Hey so actually Karina posted her apology on a paid fan app and it was like 4 sentences with no mention of what she’s done. Meanwhile jungkook released his own apology before his company, owned up and discarded the hat. It was a clean and fast apology https://t.co/tQFfs0Kpaw

she posted a photo during election week with the party’s color, the party’s number, and even the election symbol in her caption, of course it’s not the same. https://t.co/kaQLxoAJG6

BTS Jungkook encounters a sasaeng outside his home

Meanwhile, Jungkook recently found himself at the center of a deeply unsettling sasaeng incident. According to reports from Korean media, a Chinese woman in her 30s attempted to illegally enter his residence on the very day he was discharged from the military — a moment that was meant to mark his peaceful return to civilian life. Fortunately, the woman was arrested by authorities.

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