For the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards (2021 MAMA), both ITZY and aespa put on incredible performances, which went viral thanks to an interaction between ITZY’s Yeji and aespa’s Karina.
ITZY’s medley of their title tracks “LOCO” and “In the Morning” was given a cinematic storyline.
Your browser does not support video.ITZY’s Lia | Mnet K-POP/YouTube Your browser does not support video.ITZY’s Yuna | Mnet K-POP/YouTube Your browser does not support video.ITZY’s Chaeryeong | Mnet K-POP/YouTube
Squid Game actor Heo Sung Tae gave Ryujin a mission to eliminate her other members.
Your browser does not support video.Heo Sung Tae | Mnet K-POP/YouTube
Their performance featured impressive sets, stunning outfits, and even fight choreography.
Your browser does not support video.ITZY’s Ryujin | Mnet K-POP/YouTube
Along with ITZY’s phenomenal acting and talent.
Your browser does not support video.ITZY’s Yeji (left) and Ryujin (right) | Mnet K-POP/YouTube
In contrast, aespa used their multiverse for their performance’s story.
Your browser does not support video.(left to right) aespa’s Giselle, Karina, Winter, and NingNing | Mnet K-POP/YouTube
The brief intermission between their performances featuring the CGI snake that has made appearances in their music videos and teasers.
Your browser does not support video.| Mnet K-POP/YouTube
For the awards show, they performed both title tracks, “Next Level” and “Savage.”
Your browser does not support video.| Mnet K-POP/YouTube
Their outfits were also stunning, and the graphics behind the stage suited their performances perfectly.
Your browser does not support video.| Mnet K-POP/YouTube
They even showed off their impressive dancing alongside their AI avatars.
Your browser does not support video.| Mnet K-POP/YouTube
And although the performances took place months prior to the behind-the-scenes video’s release, fans once again talked about the performances following a moment between ITZY’s Yeji and aespa’s Karina going viral on Twitter.
Your browser does not support video.aespa’s Karina (left) and ITZY’s Yeji (right)
The two show off their friendship in a brief interaction.
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Yeji greets Karina and claims that she is a MY (aespa’s fandom name).
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And Karina references Yeji’s iconic “kitty” line in ITZY’s title track, “LOCO.” Telling Yeji, she looks like she’d “be good at “sweet little kitty-ing.’”
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And fans are understandably excited to see these two idols’ friendship.
KARINA AND YEJI THERE ARE TEARS pic.twitter.com/4QfIkKr2NN
— ً (@karinacentre) February 19, 2022
More recently, Karina guested on a radio show and apologized to Yeji for not responding to her messages fast enough.
Aespa’s Karina “Apologizes” To ITZY’s Yeji For The Most Unexpected Reason
