Recently, aespa’s lead vocalist, Winter, has received death threats, leading to the intervention of the South Korean police. What’s more shocking is that not only aespa Winter but also several other artists and employees of SM Entertainment have been receiving death threats. So, what really happened behind these death threats against aespa Winter and SM Entertainment artists? And how did the company handle the situation, especially after the horrible stabbing rampage in Seoul, South Korea? Check out the following full story for a more comprehensive explanation.
*THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SENSITIVE STORIES AND DETAILS OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH THREATS THAT MAY BE DISTURBING FOR SOME READERS. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.*
Following Stabbing Rampage in Seoul, aespa Winter Suffers from Death Threats
Following the horrible stabbing rampage in Seoul, Soth Korea, multiple death threats happening around SM Entertainment artists. Firstly, the death threats happened to the vocalist of aespa Winter. What’s worse, it didn’t just stop there. Instead, the death threats escalated, reaching more SM Entertainment artists and even the company’s ordinary employees.
It all began on August 7 with an anonymous post in an online community around 4 PM KST. This anonymous post contained horrifying death threats against aespa Winter and was quickly removed afterwards. However, SM Entertainment decided to report the death threats happening to aespa Winter, prioritizing her safety.
“I will stab and kill aespa Winter, who is leaving the country tomorrow.”
anonymous post.
Due to these death threats that happened to aespa Winter, SM Entertainment vowed to heighten the security surrounding its artists, including aespa members.
In an official statement on August 8, SM Entertainment revealed to have filed official charges against the writer of the death threats. The company also confirmed that the police had had inspected their building for security purposes.
That is because, surprisingly, the police had also received reports of multiple death threats from the company.
“Yesterday, an online post surfaced, posing a threat to the safety of aespa Winter.
Upon verification, we immediately filed a criminal complaint against the author to the police, seeking an urgent investigation and collaboration.
In light of this, we have enhanced our security measures. Today, with the combined efforts of our security team and airport officials, aespa members have safely left the country.
Additionally, the police visited our office over the last two days to assess the safety arrangements and Winter’s well-being. That is especially after multiple incident reports.
We will continue our unwavering commitment to ensure the safety of our company’s artists.”
SM Entertainment.
Multiple Death Threats Against SM Entertainment Artists & Employees: The Full Story
In addition to aespa Winter, SM Entertainment revealed that multiple death threats also happened to the company’s other artists.
Korean media outlet SPOTV News reported on August 11 that SM Entertainment had suffered multiple death threats due to the popularity of its artists. And these death threats happened not only to aespa Winter and SM Entertainment artists but also to the company’s ordinary employees.
So, what really happened behind this series of death threats against SM Entertainment artists and employees?
A Man Arrested for Meticulously Planning to Kill SM Entertainment Artists and Employees
According to SPOTV News and Chosun Ilbo, the Gyeonggi Hanam Police had arrested a 28-year-old male perpetrator. This man had posted a series of death threats against multiple artists, employees, to even executives of SM Entertainment agency.
Previously in the afternoon of August 8, the 28-year-old man posted death threats on the South Korean online community, DC Inside. In the post, the OP (original poster) declared that he would select 9 SM Entertainment employees at Seoul Forest Station and kill them.
The police even reported that the perpetrator had created a specific and thorough plan to commit the crime. And they found out about the plan’s details after confiscating and thoroughly searching the man’s cellphone contents. The plan included setting up the crime on D-Day, how to execute the crime in detail, how to write threatening letters, and even how to respond to the police.
Due to the severity of the crime and lack of credibility in the reasons, the police immediately arrested the perpetrator.
The Complete Reason Behind Death Threats Against SM Entertainment
The report further revealed the perpetrator’s motive behind the threats to aespa Winter and SM Entertainment employees.
In the report, the police stated that the reason behind these death threats and crimes was that a member of SM Entertainment girl group whom he had liked for almost 10 years did not accept his heart.
In his statement to the police, the man revealed that he had admired an SM girl group member for a decade. One day, he sent a message, conveying his feelings to member B of the group through social media DM. However, there was no response from the girl group member, even after he sent the message several times.
The man grew angry at the member. He then impulsively wrote death threats against SM Entertainment artists and employees.
Still, the police didn’t believe his reasoning. After all, the meticulous planning and detailed arrangement of his crime proved his ‘impulsive anger’ unreliable. Moreover, the man—living off part-time jobs—had been taking medicines for mental illness.
Therefore, the police arrested the 28-year-old man under intimidation and hierarchical obstruction of public affairs charges.
“The perpetrator stated:
‘I used every possible means to approach Artist B, but I was angry because B didn’t reply. There was not even a single reaction.’.
We confirmed that the perpetrator had carefully prepared meticulous scenarios, including executing the crime on D-Day, the death threat posts, and how to respond to the police.”
Gyeonggi Hanam Police official.
Growing Anxiety After What Happened to aespa Winter and Stabbing Rampage in Seoul, South Korea
What makes the matter worse is that these death threats happened to aespa Winter and SM Entertainment artists after the multiple stabbing rampage in Seoul, South Korea. That is why fans grew even more anxious about the severity of these death threats and the artists’ safety.
Previously, multiple random stabbing rampage happened in Bundang and Sillim Station in Seoul, South Korea. A total of 14 people were injured in the Bundang incident; 12 are in critical condition. As for the Sillim Station case, among the 4 victims of the random stabbing incident, 1 had reportedly passed away.
Indeed, the police arrested all the perpetrators involved in the crime. However, these incidents have heightened the severity of the death threats that happened to aespa Winter and SM Entertainment employees. And that is especially after the unprecedented increase in death threats, resulting in 38 detained and 4 arrested perpetrators.
Finally, Kpoppost’s team of writers express our regrets and condolences to all the victims of the random stabbing rampage in Seoul, South Korea. We urge the public to increase the security measures in their surroundings and take precautions to ensure their safety.
So, what do you think about what happened to aespa Winter and SM Entertainment? Please share your thoughts in the comments. And keep yourself updated with K-entertainment latest news on Kpoppost’s Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram channel.
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