On the January 20 episode of SBS’s variety series “The Ballad of Us,” aespa’s KARINA phoned in and confessed she’s a fan of the program.
When a caller introduced herself as KARINA, host Cha Tae-hyun joked, “This isn’t Lee Su-ji, right?” She shot back, “It’s really KARINA,” cracking up the studio.
Calling in while volunteering with her parents at an orphanage, KARINA shared a quick life update: “Our break just started, so I’ve been resting.”
A self-proclaimed ballad lover, she congratulated winner Lee Ye-ji and added that she’s also big on rock ballads, earning nods from the cast.
KARINA then surprised everyone by naming Jung Ji-woong as the contestant she’s been rooting for. Jung popped out of his seat to say, “Thank you!” sparking laughter.
“I love his voice so much that I kept looking up clips,” KARINA said, citing some of her favorite performances and proving her stan credentials. Her message to Jung: “I’m cheering you on. Please keep singing for a long, long time.”
“Still feels unreal―my friends are going to be so jealous,” Jung replied, before serenading her on the spot with a line from an anime theme.
KARINA also shouted out Kim Yoon-i, a former trainee friend. “Yoon-i, we all watched together,” she said.
“We trained together for about a year. She was a gem at our company,” KARINA continued. “At every evaluation, the vocals that stunned me were NINGNING and Yoon-i.”
Wishing Kim Yoon-i well on her fresh start, KARINA added, “I’ve seen how hard you worked. I just want you to be happy―and to keep singing for a long time.”
Elsewhere in the episode’s co-ed four-member “ballad idol” showdown, Team Chacha’s Small Mama soundly defeated Team Mumu’s Cheonhong Ijeong to clinch the win.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)