aespa Surprises Fans with Return of Virtual Member ae-aespa and Krystal Jung’s Special Appearance

aespa’s virtual avatars, ae-aespa, are making a comeback in the music scene with new and improved CGI designs!

But wait… why are K-pop fans talking about Krystal Jung?

Krystal Jung Special Appearance? aespa Shocks With Return of Virtual Self ae-aespa — (Photo : SMTOWN/Instagram)

On September 30th, aespa kicked off a new music era by releasing teasers for their 5th mini-album, “Whiplash.”

The popular quartet is set to return fully on October 21st, following the success of their first studio album, “Armageddon,”launched in May.

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On this occasion, aespa’s official social media accounts revealed concept images for “Whiplash,”showcasing the return of their virtual avatars, ae-aespa.

For those unfamiliar, ae-aespa are the virtual counterparts of the group members: ae-Karina, ae-Giselle, ae-Winter, and ae-NingNing.

They debuted with the group as an octet in 2020, starting with “Black Mamba,”and are known as the “hidden members”residing on the planet KWANGYA.

After their last appearance in 2023, during aespa’s promotion of “Better Things,”ae-aespa surprised MYs (fandom) with their upgraded appearances.

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Unlike their previous cartoon-like CGI representations, the avatars now feature realistic 3D designs closely resembling their human counterparts.

Notably, ae-Giselle drew significant attention, prompting K-pop stans to compare her to f(x) member Krystal Jung.

The avatar sports pink hair and a unique eye accessory reminiscent of Krystal’s recent style, and when considering features like her nose, face shape, and physique, it draws a striking resemblance to the former SM Entertainment artist. It almost seems like Krystal is part of aespa!

The similarities between the two stars have excited fans, as Giselle has often been referred to as the “little sister”of Krystal due to their uncanny features since her debut.

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Interestingly, Giselle and Krystal are also friends in real life!

Here are some of the reactions:

“Giselle looks like Krystal.”

“Now, this is a glow-up.”

“Welcome back, Krystal.”

“Krystal Jung, is that you?”

“OMG! This ae version is gorgeous!”

“Giselle or Krystal? They look so similar!”

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