On April 27 (Mon), a press conference for the luxury golf brand “MARK & LONA,” operated by Cube Co., Ltd., was held in Tokyo. KARINA, the globally popular leader of aespa, was announced as the brand’s new ambassador and appeared on stage to mark the release of the latest visuals and commercial. She shared her thoughts on the brand and behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot, presenting a refreshed brand image.

Regarding the decision to appoint KARINA as ambassador, Tomoaki Matsumura, Chairman and Representative Director of Cube Co., Ltd., which operates MARK & LONA, commented, “Amid the growing popularity of K-pop culture, I was watching various music videos when I was struck by the opening scene of aespa’s ‘Supernova,’ where KARINA appears. It felt like a bolt of lightning ran through me, and I immediately thought she would be perfect as our ambassador.”

He added, “Through this partnership, we hope to introduce MARK & LONA to a wider audience both in Japan and internationally, while also communicating that golf is a fashion-forward, trend-driven sport and contributing to the revitalization of the industry.”

Regarding her appointment as brand ambassador, KARINA said, “I was very surprised when I first received the offer. I was a bit worried about whether I could express golf wear well, but after seeing the final visuals, I felt I was able to express the brand’s image in my own way.”

Speaking about her impression of the brand, she added, “My family loves golf, so I already had a positive impression. I felt it was a brand with many beautiful and appealing items.” Reflecting on the visual shoot held in Korea, she smiled and said, “I had a great time during the shoot.”

She also mentioned trying putting for the first time during the shoot, saying, “It was my first time ever putting. With guidance from the staff, I did my best to make it look as professional as possible.” She added with a laugh, “In the commercial, it goes in perfectly, but how it really went is a secret.”

She also spoke about her activities as an artist, saying, “I’m very happy that we were able to successfully complete our dome tour in Japan yesterday,” which drew a round of applause from the audience. “Every time we perform in Japan, I truly feel that we receive so much energy,” she added, expressing her gratitude.

When asked about her favorite things to do in Japan, she revealed “monjayaki,” which she had written on a flip board, saying, “I always eat it whenever I come to Japan,” drawing smiles from the audience. She also shared that her current interests are “books and movies,” adding, “After reading or watching, I always keep a record,” showing her diligent side.

Finally, she smiled and said, “Thank you to everyone in Japan,” bringing the event to a close.

KARINA Profile

Leader of the global K-pop group aespa, KARINA enjoys immense popularity both in Korea and internationally. She debuted with the group in November 2020 with the single “Black Mamba.” Since then, aespa has released a series of global hits, including “Supernova” and “Whiplash.”

In Japan, the group successfully held Tokyo Dome concerts for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, and in 2026 launched their first dome tour, “2026 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK : aeXIS LINE – in JAPAN [SPECIAL EDITION DOME TOUR].” As the group’s leader, KARINA continues to guide the team while captivating audiences worldwide with her refined visuals and distinctive style.