TWICE member Momo, who announced a tooth extraction during the world tour. Photo by Lee Seon-myeong 57km@kyunghyang.com

In the end, it has come to a member undergoing a tooth extraction. As TWICE, now on a world tour, has seen members suffer injuries and ailments in succession, an overwork controversy has surfaced.

On the 11th, Momo wrote on the fan platform Bubble that “I suddenly had to get a tooth pulled in Chicago” and “it has not been long since the extraction, so the left side of my face is still swollen; please understand.”

She explained that on the day of the Chicago concert she could not sleep due to severe toothache, and that upon visiting a local dentist the next day, she was told the condition of a tooth that had previously undergone root canal treatment had worsened.

For treatment, returning home would have been necessary, but the tour schedule held her back. Momo confessed, “It originally was not to the point of needing removal, but there was no time,” and “because I had to perform, after much deliberation at the dental clinic I had the tooth extracted. I truly did not want to remove it, but there was no choice.” The implant procedure has been postponed until after returning to Korea.

Momo undergoing an extraction was not an isolated case. Member Dahyun felt an ankle problem in the early stage of the North American tour in January, yet carried on by performing seated on stage.

JYP Entertainment (JYP) announced on February 11 that “after an ankle abnormality was detected for Dahyun in the early part of the first leg of the tour, she continued steady treatment in the United States, and a detailed examination conducted after returning to Korea diagnosed a fracture,” and officially stated she would not take part in the North American concerts from February 13 to March 7. As recovery was further delayed, JYP issued an additional announcement on March 25 of a temporary suspension of all activities, saying that “she plans to rejoin when she reaches a condition that allows her to perform choreography.”

TWICE on their world tour schedule. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

Chaeyoung’s situation is more complex. After being diagnosed with vasovagal syncope in November last year and halting activities through the end of the year, Chaeyoung, only four months later, on March 26 this year, postponed her departure on the very day of leaving for the United States due to an abnormality in her lower back. Given that the main causes of vasovagal syncope include extreme fatigue and stress, suspicions are being raised that she may have returned to the tour without a sufficient recovery period.

Even with this news about Momo, fan communities boiled over. Reactions followed such as “How much must it have hurt for it to come to a tooth extraction,” “It is regrettable that she cannot receive proper treatment because she is on tour,” and “I hope health comes first.” Some fans raised their criticism of the agency, saying, “Is the tight world-tour schedule overtaxing the condition of the members?”

TWICE’s current ‘This Is For’ (THIS IS FOR) world tour is a massive project that began with a concert in Incheon last July and will visit 43 locations worldwide. As of April, the tour has continued for nine months. Further ahead are North American dates including Denver and Austin, and a concert at Tokyo National Stadium.

With members dropping out one after another, some in the industry are questioning whether the tour was overloaded from the design stage.