aespa’s member Winter was forced to miss a major concert in Thailand after being diagnosed with flu-like symptoms, sparking intense anger among fans toward her agency, SM Entertainment. The incident is the latest in a series of health issues and fan complaints about the company’s management of the popular K-pop group.
Concert Absence and Health Scare
Hours before the second night of aespa’s SYNK: aeXIS LINE concert in Thailand, the agency SM True announced Winter would be absent from the soundcheck to rest for the performance. A later statement confirmed she would miss the entire concert after a hospital visit where she was diagnosed with “cold and flu-like symptoms” and advised to “take sufficient rest.”
The agency’s statement emphasized the decision was made “with the artist’s health and well-being as our top priority.” The concert proceeded with the three remaining members: Karina, Giselle, and Ningning.
Fan Outrage Over Packed Schedule
Fans quickly expressed fury online, blaming SM Entertainment for overworking the group with an “insanely packed schedule.” The Thailand concerts came immediately after a demanding series of events. Just days before, on November 14, the group performed a 10-song set in Los Angeles. Hours after that performance, they embarked on an approximately 30-hour flight to Bangkok, arriving just in time for the first concert.
This Thailand show was the group’s 11th performance in just six weeks, following a string of shows across Japan. One fan commented, “Flying the girls from Asia to the US and straight back to Asia in less than five days like they’re cargo, not humans whose bodies need time to adapt.”
Winter’s Previous Health Struggles
Concerns were heightened due to Winter’s previous health issues. A year and a half ago, the singer underwent surgery for a collapsed lung, a condition that typically requires four to eight weeks for full recovery. Reports indicate she returned to performances just one month later for the group’s “Supernova” comeback.
During the first night of the Thailand concert, before her absence was announced, fans noted Winter appeared visibly unwell. One observer noted, “From the start of the concert til the end, Winter was seen catching her breath a lot, and sniffing too during their ments as she drinks water.” Another supporter wrote, “Minjeong’s condition didn’t look too good yesterday already. She was coughing, sniffling, basically just looked like she was feeling really uncomfortable.”
Pattern of Health Concerns
Winter is not the only aespa member facing health challenges. During the soundcheck for the same concert series, fans reported hearing Karina coughing consistently. Prior to the group’s Los Angeles performance, Karina had also mentioned feeling too unwell to shoot a corresponding interview.
These incidents are not isolated. Fans point to a pattern of health concerns among the members over the years, with repeated demands for SM Entertainment to improve scheduling and prioritize artist well-being.
Fan Community Boycotts and Criticism
The health crisis comes amid existing tension between SM Entertainment and segments of aespa’s fanbase. Winter’s Chinese fanbase, known as “Team Winter,” recently declared a boycott of all group activities. Their statement accused SM of “years of frustration” over alleged mistreatment of the idol.
The fanbase specifically claimed SM’s official accounts consistently overlook Winter’s solo activities while regularly promoting other members’ schedules. They announced, “Starting today, Team Winter will boycott all aespa group activities. Despite years of requests from fans and consumers asking for basic fairness, our feedback has been ignored.”
This follows a similar boycott declaration from Karina’s Chinese fanbase last year, potentially affecting the group’s significant presence in Chinese markets.
Members Voice Frustration Publicly
Both Winter and Karina have recently expressed public criticism of SM Entertainment’s decisions, particularly regarding fan management. During a live broadcast, Winter openly criticized the company’s handling of the group’s new lightstick sales.
She pointed out that limiting sales to on-site booths at concerts created unnecessary difficulties for fans. Winter suggested, “If they had at least done an online reservation system, you could’ve bought it online and just picked it up at the venue. That way, the wait wouldn’t be as long.” She also addressed the inclusion of only one random photocard with the lightstick, stating, “I think they should give all four photocards. Let’s not treat the lightstick as a way to make money. The fans are coming just to support us, so at the very least, like this should be given.”
Karina also addressed the issue separately, revealing she had pushed for online pre-orders but her requests were not implemented due to production issues. She apologized to fans for the inconvenience.
Winter’s Past Struggles with SM
In a recent revelation on the YouTube talk show Saloon Drip 2, Winter shared she was rejected by SM Entertainment three times before finally being accepted as a trainee. She recounted how during her first audition, the SM evaluator noticed her brother and tried to recruit him instead. Winter recalled thinking, “Didn’t you come for me? It was that easy?”
After being rejected at a subsequent global audition in Busan, Winter began auditioning for other companies. It was only when she informed SM she was considering other options that they asked her to audition one final time, leading to her eventual acceptance. Fans have since questioned the company’s judgment, with one commenting, “Imagine rejecting THE Kim Minjeongโฆ SM you’re so lucky she kept trying.”
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Company Response to Online Harassment
SM Entertainment has taken some steps to protect its artists from malicious online activity. In early October, the company announced it had filed over 200 new criminal complaints against malicious online posts targeting its artists through its ‘KWANGYA 119’ reporting system. The company stated it consistently pursues legal action against activities including the spread of false rumors, defamation, sexual harassment, and insults.
Winter has previously faced direct online harassment, with one user posting, “Why are you still alive?” on Weverse. She responded gracefully with, “Smoking is harmful to your healthโฅ,” demonstrating her kind approach to negative comments.
Ongoing Concerns and Future
With aespa’s continued global promotions and a confirmed comeback scheduled for September 2025, fans remain concerned about the group’s workload and well-being. The recent health incident with Winter has intensified calls for SM Entertainment to reform its scheduling practices and treatment of artists.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions in the K-pop industry between intense promotion schedules and artist welfare, with fans increasingly vocal in demanding better conditions for their favorite idols.
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