QWER Accused of 'Forced Virality' Following Chodan-Karina Visual Comparisons: 'SME Should Start Charging'

Netizens weren't fond of the "virality tactics" used to drag down Karina of aespa and highlight QWER member Chodan.

On December 9, K-netz gathered in a community thread, titled "The Way QWER Tries to Do Negative Virality is So Disgusting." The author uploaded several screenshots showing forum topics that focused on pitting Chodan's visuals against Karina's.

QWER Accused of 'Forced Virality' Following Chodan-Karina Visual Comparisons pannchoa

QWER Accused of 'Forced Virality' Following Chodan-Karina Visual Comparisons pannchoa

QWER Accused of 'Forced Virality' Following Chodan-Karina Visual Comparisons pannchoa

Translations:

• "QWER's Chodan who won over aespa Karina's face."
• "Chodan survived next to Karina."
• "Chodan won over Karina."
• "Chodan who isn't losing to Karina."
• "QWER's Chodan whose face won over all the other girl groups."
• "Who won between Karina vs. Chodan?"
• "It's hilarious to even compare Karina's visuals with Chodan's"
• "Karina Chodan. Wow, I like that."
• "Karina and Chodan, is that right?"

OP also revealed, "They've been plastering these comments on every website. If you look at YouTube or Instagram, there are plenty of shorts about it. They're dragging Karina and raising awareness about some camgirl through negative virality."

K-netz were disdained in the comments section, as many expressed how "disgusting" the viral marketing was. Read their reactions below:

• "The fact that they're being compared with each other is already rude to Karina. Fans of aespa are normal citizens, while QWER's fans are incels."
• "They're honestly using the same tactics as fake idols. They acted like feminists were terrorizing their company, so they media played like they're getting hated on by male communities and trying to create fake virality with it."

International fans reacted to the post and were disappointed, while others claimed that the remarks weren't marketing-related but a hate post to set up QWER.

• "These types of attacks focusing on Karina's appearance to bring her down will never work."
• "Look at all the times they utilized Karina's name. SME should start charging."
• "This ain't marketing. It's a hate post setting them up."
• "People acting like this is marketing are so funny when it's coming from a known very toxic dc gallery."