Fans of aespa are concerned about Winter’s health after her absence from the Bangkok concert.
On November 16, SM Entertainment announced that the 24-year-old star had been diagnosed with “cold and flu-like symptoms.” The agency said that Winter visited the hospital following her performance the day before and that the doctor recommended she take sufficient rest.
As a result, she was unable to participate in the second night of aespa’s concert at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. SM explained that her absence from the sound check and the concert was necessary to prioritize her health and safety.
She apologized for sitting out the second show in Bangkok in a long post on Bubble, “I feel so so sorry. I’ll get better quickly!! And I will hurry back to Thailand!!! Let’s have fun again when that time comes!! ㅜㅜ I really like Thailand…”
She added, “I wanted to tell you that on the first day, you all had so so much fun and enjoyed it so well that I also had an amazing time!!!!”
Winter shared that she is feeling better now, and further said, “since today is our 5th anniversary, it’s like our birthday!!!! Being sick is kakdugi.”
aespa is currently on their third world tour, “2025 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK: aeXIS LINE.” Despite Winter sitting out the Bangkok show on November 16, the concert went on with the other three members, Karina, Giselle, and Ningning, performing as planned.
Fans had already noticed signs that Winter was unwell during the first night of the Bangkok concerts on November 15. She appeared to be catching her breath, sniffling, and coughing during the performances. On the other hand, Karina also showed signs of strain during soundcheck, while Ningning and Giselle also appeared exhausted.
Many fans pointed out that aespa’s demanding schedule could have contributed to Winter’s illness. The Thailand concerts were their 11th performance in just six weeks. The day before arriving in Bangkok, the group had performed at Amazon Music Live in Los Angeles.
They then endured an approximately 30-hour flight to reach Thailand for their first show. Given this intense travel and performance schedule, fans worried about the long-term effects on Winter. She had previously undergone surgery for a collapsed lung about a year and a half ago and returned to the stage just a month later.
Despite Winter’s temporary break, aespa’s activities continue. Today, the group released a special digital single for the tour, “SYNK: aeXIS LINE.” The single features solo tracks from each member, all of whom participated in writing the lyrics. Winter’s solo, titled “Blue,” is a pop-rock song that reflects a “desperate will to persevere.”
SM Entertainment asked fans to understand the decision and emphasized that Winter’s health comes first. All members have safely returned to Korea from Bangkok, and hopefully, they will take ample time to rest before the next shows. Next, aespa will hold two massive concerts in Osaka, Japan, on November 26-27.