aespa member Karina (카리나) has been a constant topic of discussion since her debut, with her visuals and figure frequently debated online. She has even faced malicious comments due to her naturally full physique. Recently, another 5th-generation girl group idol, dubbed "the next Karina" by netizens, has unexpectedly become a hot topic due to her body.
tripleS (트리플에스) member Lee Chae-yeon (이채연) garnered significant attention online after numerous photos and videos from her appearance at the Anyang Dance Festival in Anyang, Korea, on May 20 went viral. Dressed in a form-fitting white short-sleeved top and a matching mini-skirt, her sleek outfit highlighted her slender waist, making it a focal point.
After the event videos were released, some netizens specifically slowed down Lee Chae-yeon's footage, focusing on her chest. These related videos amassed over a million views, with some even directly calling her "the new generation Karina." As the discussion intensified, a post about Lee Chae-yeon's figure appeared on a Korean forum, claiming her "chest suddenly became very full recently" and attempting to analyze the reasons behind her body changes.
The original poster of the forum article wrote that Lee Chae-yeon did not previously have such a pronounced figure. They then claimed her body had changed significantly this year and speculated that she might be using "shapewear" to lift and adjust her bust.
However, these comments quickly drew backlash from netizens, with many arguing there was no need to criticize a female idol's body and questioning the original poster's motives.
One netizen directly commented, "No female idol's chest has suddenly gotten that much bigger recently. Who are you even talking about? Haha, are you just imagining things?" Another retorted, "No matter how jealous or desperate you are, female idols are still far superior to you."
Other netizens believed that female idols naturally have different body types and there's no need to make an issue of it: "Female idols are inherently different types of people from you. Don't get caught up in your own inferiority and inadequacy. At least I believe she is a very precious existence to her parents."
Some also argued that wearing shapewear to adjust one's figure is nothing to be surprised about: "Isn't wearing something to make your body look better preferable to undergoing risky surgery? And what business is it of yours anyway? She hasn't done anything wrong, so why such a fuss?"
As the discussion continued, Lee Chae-yeon's figure unexpectedly became a hot topic online. However, some netizens have urged the public to stop over-magnifying female idols' physical characteristics, suggesting that the focus should instead return to their stage performances rather than their bodies.
