SM Entertainment Idol Sparks Major Reactions Over Her Religion

Netizens are pleasantly surprised.

The internet is currently obsessed with a fifth-generation SM Entertainment girl group member’s religious identity, simply because of how rare the situation is.

The idol in question is Carmen from the rising girl group Hearts2Hearts.

Carmen of Hearts2Hearts

Recently, a post went viral across Korean online communities that claimed that Carmen belonged to a Hindu religious background. The OP (original poster) made the claim based on pictures uploaded by the idol’s parents.

The OP also mentioned that Carmen received flak when people automatically assumed that she followed Islam by virtue of being from Indonesia. However, since Carmen had talked about her overall preference for pork over beef, it was clear that she was not Muslim. Since she is from Indonesia, where being non-religious is illegal, the speculation is that she follows Hinduism. In addition, the idol is reportedly from the Hindu-dominant region of Bali, which has people all the more convinced that she is Hindu.

This revelation has sparked major reactions from netizens, especially since it’s not easy to find Hindu idols in mainstream K-Pop. However, some also questioned the implications of Carmen receiving hate for her mistaken Muslim identity, wondering why an idol’s religion was a matter of discussion anyway.

Carmen is hindu?? Damn thats new

— recha awaits for justin's debut (@dearestjustiin) July 6, 2026

first time seeing a kpop idol being hindu

— Vish (@BgDcUnLeash) July 6, 2026

| theqoo

• “Since Korean female idols want to avoid any misunderstandings regarding Islam, I kind of understand this, but it’s honestly pretty gross… People disparaging that idol’s home country and saying things like ‘thank goodness she isn’t Muslim’ and all that.”
• “Is it rude to ask about religion? Why are fans trying to figure it out by playing ‘Twenty Questions’ lol.”
• “Listing religion on ID cards—and the fact that ‘no religion’ is illegal—is the most surprising part.”

| theqoo

• “I had no idea this kind of unfair hate existed. It’s shocking… I mean, what kind of logic is that?”
• “I really hate religion. Now they’re even coming up with things like making it illegal to be non-religious.”