aespa Ningning Unable to Attend NHK Red and White Song Festival Due to Flu... Change to 3-Member System

One day before Japan's largest year-end music program, the NHK Red and White Song Festival, Ningning, a Chinese member of aespa, will not be able to take the stage. The official reason is 'flu', but there are interpretations locally that the recent rise in anti-China sentiment may have influenced this decision.

On the 29th, the agency SM Entertainment announced Ningning's absence through aespa's official Japanese website. The company stated, "Ningning has been diagnosed with influenza (flu) at the hospital and has been advised by medical staff to take sufficient rest." As a result, this year's Red and White Song Festival stage will consist of only three members: Karina, Giselle, and Winter.

Ningning's decision to not participate seems to be related to the recent controversy over past social media posts. In 2022, Ningning shared a photo of specific lighting on her social media, which has recently been pointed out to resemble the mushroom-shaped cloud that occurs immediately after an atomic bomb explosion.

The controversy intensified as it coincided with a period of strained China-Japan relations following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan. As Prime Minister Takaichi suggested the possibility of Japan's intervention in the event of a Taiwan crisis, tensions between the two countries escalated, leading to petitions demanding Ningning's cancellation of participation in the Red and White Song Festival.

SM Entertainment officially addressed the controversy, emphasizing that "Ningning's post did not contain any specific purpose or intent." They added, "However, we will be more cautious in the future regarding any concerns raised."

The Red and White Song Festival is a representative year-end music program in Japan broadcast on NHK every December 31, and participation itself is considered an indicator of high popularity and recognition locally. aespa will meet their Japanese fans on this stage as a 3-member group.