Amid ongoing concerns over Seolhyun recently being forced to end a show for feeling ill, the AOA singer’s agency explained that her sickness was due to gunpowder that was used during the group’s performance.

On Saturday, FNC Entertainment said in a statement, “Earlier today, Seolhyun was immediately taken to the hospital after she felt dizzy of the smoke and gunpowder that were used onstage.”

“She has been released from the hospital and is taking rest at home. We will take extra care of AOA members’ health and we apologize again for causing concerns,” it added.

In the video of the act’s Saturday performance for Fortnite Korea Open 2018, Seolhyun, who’d been maintaining a smiley face, was spotted visibly ill -- retching several times and looking shaky -- as the show neared to its end. After performing “Like a Cat,” she failed to get up from her kneeling position, and with the help from the staff and her bandmates, exited the stage. AOA told fans that “Seolhyun was feeling under the weather for catching a bad cold.” The tempature dropped to below zero on that day and the girls were wearing short pants without jackets.

Despite the agency’s explanation, many fans are still speculating that Seolhyun was suffering from cold, demanding FNC to take better care of the members’ health.





Some of the comments read, “I can’t believe that the agency made her wear those outfits when she was sick,” “She is so professional that she tried to keep smiling no matter what” and “If it was due to gunpowder, why are other members fine?”

AOA originally debuted as an eight-member group in August 2012. Equipped with vocal prowess and powerful choreography, the act rose to stardom with infectious hits like “Miniskirt,” “Short Hair,“ “Like a Cat,” and most recently, “Bingle Bangle.”

By Hong Dam-young (lotus@heraldcorp.com)