The two groups have an interesting history.
Koreaboo
2 hours ago
aespa’s Karina has fans talking after a recent unexpected interaction involving NewJeans.
| @katarinabluu/Instagram
Following the group’s latest SYNK : COMPLæXITY show in Dallas, Texas, the members met with fans for the concert send-off. During the event, one MY handed Karina a photocard and asked her to sign it, but the image on the card was not of aespa.
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When Karina asked about the card, the fan shouted “NewJeans!” prompting an immediate reaction from the aespa star. Karina seemed surprised, then broke into a big smile and even said “hi” to the photocard before signing it.
aespa’s KARINA was seen smiling after signing a fan’s NewJeans photocard. pic.twitter.com/rNFpgWBZDf
— About NewJeans (@AboutNWJNSMusic) October 2, 2026
The card appeared to feature all five members of NewJeans, including Danielle, who was ousted from the group by ADOR in late December last year.
it was this photocard https://t.co/tYb2V0DyyU pic.twitter.com/1b4dPnOLtn
— njz (@Lovestarzz11) October 2, 2026
Fans were quick to seize the moment after the clip went viral on social media, with many celebrating that “aeJeans” is still alive.
A fan asked Karina to sign an ot5 Newjeans photocard and she smiled and even said hi to the photocard. OMG MY AEJEANS 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/gyh09BCKE3
— Karina♡ (@ujiminphoria) October 2, 2026
AEJEANS IS ALIVE AND WELL pic.twitter.com/uNeoRNVZ2V https://t.co/tYb2V0E6os
— njz (@Lovestarzz11) October 2, 2026
You can tell she misses them badly https://t.co/MhP61V6CkI
— BLACKMAMBA (@THEOGBLACKMAMBA) October 2, 2026
NewJeans and aespa have a complicated history. In 2024, then ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin revealed that when she was in the early days of forming a girl group, Bang Si Hyuk had allegedly asked her, “You can crush aespa, right?” Even so, the aespa and NewJeans members were later seen sharing a close and positive relationship.
@newjeans_official
How Sweet it T(ae)ste 🖤🍭 #aespa#WINTER#NINGNING #HowSweet#NewJeans#뉴진스#HANNI#DANIELLE#NewJeans_is_Everywhere
♬ How Sweet – NewJeans
Earlier this year, aespa also went viral when fans spotted possible references to NewJeans songs in the choreography for “LEMONADE.” Just weeks prior, however, some netizens had slammed the group for “betraying” NewJeans after Winter posted a TikTok video with ILLIT’s Iroha.