On January 28, IVE’s An Yujin appeared on TEO’s 'Salon Drip 2.'

During the show, host Jang Do Yeon asked if Yujin had ever discussed the challenges of being a leader with aespa’s leader Karina, particularly since they had recently performed together. Yujin responded, “I’ve wanted to get closer to her for a while. I was so focused on becoming friends that we didn’t get to have a deep conversation. But I do want to ask her. Since our teams are so different, I’m curious about how she handles things. I think she’s amazing.”

When Jang Do Yeon asked how she approached Karina, Yujin shyly said, “Our first meeting was for a challenge. Her company specifically said they wanted to film it with me, so I made an effort. I even went to the hair shop and dressed nicely. I prepared two things: one was to ask, ‘Can I call you unnie (older sister)?’ and the other was to ask for her number. But I couldn’t do either. I was so nervous and had so much on my mind. I wanted to talk well, dance well, and look good on camera.”

Yujin continued, saying she later received a proposal for a collaboration stage from a broadcasting station and thought of Karina. She even got Karina’s phone number through a mutual acquaintance but hesitated to reach out, worrying it might make Karina uncomfortable. She eventually expressed her desire to collaborate with Karina if possible.

Yujin then shared, “I heard from someone that Karina was also talking about me, so I thought, ‘I should reach out.’ But then Karina contacted me first,” showing a touched expression. Jang Do Yeon commented, “You’re both so cute. Have you gotten closer since then?”

Yujin replied with a smile, “We decided to have a meal together.” She also shared that Karina had texted her after practice to say, “Good job,” expressing her gratitude. Yujin added, “These days, I often ask Karina, ‘Is it okay if I post this photo on social media?’” further highlighting their growing friendship.

SEE ALSO: aespa's Karina and IVE's Yujin leave netizens smitten with their undeniable chemistry