SM Entertainment Faces Threats: Singer Winter Targeted, Staff Murder Threats Lead to Arrest
SM Entertainment has been enduring disturbing threats repeatedly, causing great concern for the agency and its artists.
The Hanam Police Department in Gyeonggi has arrested a man in his 20s who has been a fan of an SM Entertainment girl group for nearly a decade. He posted a threat online saying he would murder SM staff members after the group member he adored did not reciprocate his feelings.
The man, identified as Mr. A, posted on the online community site DC Inside on August 8, stating, "I will select and kill 9 SM employees at Seoul Forest Station." Mr. A claimed to have been a fan of the SM girl group for over ten years and expressed his feelings to member B through social media direct messages. However, when she did not respond, he claimed to have written the threatening post out of frustration.
SM Entertainment Faces Threats: Singer Winter Targeted, Staff Murder Threats Lead to Arrest
Yet, after seizing and searching Mr. A's cellphone, the police found evidence that he had meticulously planned the crime, even setting a specific date for his intended actions. Given the extensive planning and threatening nature of his posts, the police dismissed his claim of posting out of mere anger and proceeded with the arrest.
Recently, there was another alarming threat directed at aespa's member, Winter, where a post threatening to kill her surfaced online.
On the 7th, a shocking post predicting murder and terror against Winter was uploaded. The following day, SM stated, "A post threatening Winter's safety was found on a community site. Upon discovering it, we immediately filed a complaint against the poster at the police station and requested a swift investigation."
Interestingly, the author of the threatening post mentioned Winter's scheduled departure, stating, "aespa's Winter will depart tomorrow." Indeed, aespa was set to depart on the 8th to attend the 'Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival' at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
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In response, SM promptly increased its security personnel. With the police's cooperation, Winter and the other aespa members safely departed for their overseas schedule.
SM Entertainment commented, "The police have received several reports recently and have visited our company building yesterday and today to check on security and safety conditions. We will continue to do our utmost to ensure the safety of our artists."
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