Every year, someone gets caught red-handed. Or… red-haired.
17 minutes ago
Rapper-turned-TV star Lee Youngji has apologized after her recent Instagram post sparked unexpected political controversy.
| @youngji_02/Instagram
On May 30, 2026 (KST), Lee Youngji posted photos of herself with newly dyed red hair, writing, “Isn’t my hair color pretty?” She also used CORTIS’s song “REDRED” as background music and shared photos of herself in red, showing off the new hair color.
However, the post quickly drew attention from some netizens due to its timing. With South Korea’s local elections set for June 3, some viewers interpreted the repeated use of red, from her hair to her outfit and song choice, as a possible political association—a perennial controversy not new to K-Pop idols.
A day later, Lee Youngji returned to Instagram with her hair dyed black and posted a full apology.
You must have been very surprised by the story I uploaded yesterday that was so poorly timed… A lot of people let me know through DMs, and because I felt so sorry, I rushed to at least dye my hair somehow to try to fix it, so my explanation is late. I’m sorry.
Even though I was clearly aware that this was an important period, I think my desire to communicate came first, and I was too busy recklessly posting recent update photos.
I will not hide behind the cowardly excuse of ignorance. I will reflect and learn.
I’m sorry for my careless actions.
Have a good day.
— Lee Youngji
The controversy comes amid repeated election-season debates over celebrities’ social media posts and whether certain colors, numbers, or symbols are being used as political signals.
Previously, aespa’s Karina also faced similar speculation after posting photos with a red rose emoji ahead of the presidential election. At the time, some netizens pointed to her red top and the number “2” on it, claiming it reminded them of a specific political party or candidate. Karina later clarified that she had no such intention and apologized, saying she would be more careful moving forward.
SM Entertainment Apologizes For aespa Karina’s Controversial Upload
Model-turned-comedian Hong Jin Kyung also faced scrutiny around the same period over a red outfit, leading her to issue an explanation and apology as well.
As Lee Youngji’s apology spread, reactions remained divided. Some netizens argued that celebrities should be especially cautious during politically sensitive periods, given their influence and public visibility. Others felt the backlash was excessive, pointing out that everyday posts about hair color, fashion, and music should not automatically be interpreted as political statements unless the celebrity has explicitly expressed support for a candidate or party.
Read more about the election-season color scandals here:
Popular Celebrity Apologizes For Contoversial Post During Election Season
Source: xportsnews (1) and (2)