“I like you as the human Lee Sang-hyeok”
Faker·Karina ‘an all-time meeting’ sends the internet into a frenzy
YouTube Google Play Korea screenshot
World-class pro gamer Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) and Karina of the hit girl group aespa appeared together on the same screen. The utterly unexpected pairing and romantic direction are setting online communities ablaze.
Recently, Google Play unveiled via its YouTube channel a new advertisement teaser featuring both Faker and Karina. Produced by ‘Dolphin Kidnapping Crew’, renowned for ingenious and bold direction, the short video nonetheless leaves a powerful impact.
The released video opens with fluttering cherry blossoms in the background, as Faker urgently grabs the wrist of Karina who is about to board a bus. He then delivers a forthright confession with a distinctly serious expression, saying, “I like you not as Faker, but as the human Lee Sang-hyeok.” The dazzling visuals of Karina as she turns back in surprise, combined with Faker delivering his lines naturally, make it feel like a youth romance drama.
YouTube Google Play Korea screenshot
What especially captured the attention of netizens was the meticulous detail hidden throughout the frame. The bus number ‘507’ that Karina is about to take signifies the birthday of Faker (May 7), and ‘Gayang-dong’ written on the bus exterior is the hometown of Faker. Even an advertisement on the outer wall of the bus features the signature ‘shh’ pose of Faker, artfully placed, drawing admiration from fans.
Once the teaser dropped, netizens poured out explosive reactions. Across various online communities and social media, comments such as “It feels like a dream I had after watching a Karina fancam and a T1 match the night before”, “Turning the online joke ‘dating Lee Sang-hyeok vs dating Karina’ into a real advertisement is ingenious”, “I thought it would be cringey, but the acting of Faker was so natural that I was surprised”, and “I have no idea whom to be jealous of or envy” have been rolling in.
One commenter called it a “legendary combination that achieved grand unification of men and women in Korea”, and, regarding two top-tier stars from completely different fields being captured in a single frame, left the assessment that it was “so fresh it could cause cognitive dissonance”.
The meeting of Faker, a living legend in esports, and Karina, a representative fourth-generation K-pop idol. With the teaser alone proving immense ripple effects, public anticipation is peaking over what intriguing story will unfold in the main advertisement still shrouded in mystery.
