“SM never treats the girls like humans…”
Koreaboo
Netizens are furious with SM Entertainment after aespa Winter‘s absence from the group’s latest concert.
This weekend, aespa took on Thailand for their third world tour, SYNK: aeXIS LINE, with two concerts at the famous Impact Arena. Just hours before the Day 2 show, SM True Thailand announced that Winter would be absent from the sound check due to health reasons, stating that she would be “resting fully in preparation for the concert.”
However, the company later went on to announce that Winter would not be participating in the concert at all. According to their second statement, the star visited the hospital yesterday, where she was diagnosed with “cold and flu-like symptoms” and advised to “take sufficient rest.”
aespa at day 2 soundcheck 🤎
#aespa_SYNK_aeXISLINE_BANGKOK pic.twitter.com/jIQnmY1e3R
— 오찡어 (@ojjing_eo) November 16, 2025
After the show yesterday, WINTER visited the hospital and was diagnosed with cold and flu-like symptoms. As the doctor advised to take sufficient rest, we regret to decide that it would not be possible for her to participate in today’s sound check and concert.
This decision has been made with the artist’s health and well-being as our top priority. We sincerely hope for the understanding of all fans.
Due to this reason, three members will participate in the SOUND CHECK event and concert as scheduled.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
With sincere gratitude.
— SM True Thailand
The news quickly sparked outrage among fans, who are slamming SM Entertainment for once again failing to prioritize the members’ health.
sm planned an insanely packed schedule for the girls with zero regard for their health….having them to perform a 2 days concert right after an overseas schedule without any rest is just not it
— 👽 (@icurina) November 16, 2025
this agency man every day there’s a new disaster happening. of course it was gonna reach a breaking point. 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. and somehow we’re…
— 13 ✿ (@uchgaeri) November 16, 2025
Winter always put her best and perform all out despite her undesired condition. She is really that hardworking
But SM never treat the girls like humans and always put them in a crazy schedule… pic.twitter.com/Y6XWK0Isx1
— S (slow) (@winteraphy) November 16, 2025
Today’s concert marked aespa’s 11th show in just six weeks following a string of performances across Japan. On top of this, on November 14, the group performed a 10-song setlist at Amazon Music Live in Los Angeles. Then, hours after their performance, the members had to catch a flight to Bangkok — a plane journey that typically takes around 30 hours — to arrive for Day 1 of their Thailand set just in time.
will never understand why it’s so hard for sm to give aespa a healthy schedule no member should be missing from any event if the proper preparation and precautions are in place like they claim time and time again
this is no one’s fault but sm’s…please get well soon winter and… pic.twitter.com/10xrz5A2Am
— 윈터얼트 (@wntrult) November 16, 2025
“this decision has been made with the artist’s health and well-being as our top priority”
Well, it doesn’t look like it pic.twitter.com/ldagz5wRoL
— Jazz (@mjkmwntr) November 16, 2025
Fans also noted that Winter appeared to be visibly unwell during yesterday’s concert, praising her for pushing through despite her condition. A year and a half ago, Winter underwent surgery for a collapsed lung, which typically requires four to eight weeks’ rest for full recovery. Just one month later, she began performances for the group’s comeback with “Supernova.”
from the start of the concert til the end, Winter was seen catching her breath alot, and sniffing too during their ments as she drinks water
my baby worked really really hard amd gave her absolute very best on stage, 😭😭
i hope she got a well deserved rest and sleep last night… pic.twitter.com/cttNEiRrBz
— win 🤍🩵💙☃️❄️ (@aeswinterismine) November 16, 2025
minjeong’s condition didn’t look too good yesterday already. she was coughing, sniffling, basically just looked like she was feeling really uncomfortable, it was really heartbreaking to see, but she still managed to finish the concert really well, so honestly i wasn’t too…
— 오찡어 (@ojjing_eo) November 16, 2025
We could really tell she was sick yesterday, but she still performed so well and even interacted with MYs smiling 🥺🫳 please get well soon, Minjeong pic.twitter.com/my5Ayeeq2v
— Jazz (@mjkmwntr) November 16, 2025
On top of Winter’s ill health, fans at today’s concert also reported seeing Karina coughing. Prior to the group’s Amazon Music Live performance this week, Karina told fans she had been feeling too unwell to shoot the corresponding interview for the show.
someone needs to take one for the team and blow up that company https://t.co/2SgPWUFT82
— 🧀 (@stupidcheesecat) November 16, 2025
Jimin [Karina] kept coughing the whole time during the sound check, so I’m feeling uneasy. Sigh.
— @cheeblu on X
Given the repeated health concerns the aespa members have faced over the years, many are understandably concerned that missed schedules continue to happen despite fans’ ongoing demands for SM Entertainment to do better.