aespa's Winter, Destined to be a Snow White Who Doesn't Feel the Heat

Winter, a member of the globally renowned K-pop girl group aespa, has shared her candid thoughts regarding the psychological pressure lying behind her glamorous stages and global activities, as well as her determination to maintain agency and act proactively despite such pressures. For an idol navigating intense public scrutiny and a relentless schedule, her remarks catch the eye by redefining 'freedom' not merely as having leisure time or the absence of constraints, but as a matter of the right to self-determination.

The fashion magazine Cosmopolitan has released the cover and pictorial for its October issue featuring Winter. During the shoot, which took place amidst aespa's busy schedule traveling between Korea and the United States, Winter showcased her sophisticated image by modeling fashion aimed at the autumn and winter seasons, even while the summer heat had not yet fully subsided.

During the shoot, Winter maintained a relatively calm demeanor regarding her demanding schedule. “Since I don't feel the heat very much, today's shoot wasn't too difficult,” she said, adding, “I am adjusting to being busy with a heavy schedule.”

Regarding her ideal way of working, she confessed, “It would be best if I could do just one thing a year, but since I am working on several projects simultaneously, I am focusing on managing my physical stamina.” This sentiment reflects the realistic hardships faced by pop culture stars who must juggle numerous contents, performances, pictorials, and broadcast appearances.

In particular, Winter emphasized that despite her busy schedule, she is proactive in expressing her opinions on matters she cares about. “If there is something I want to do, I make sure to voice my opinion,” she stated. “I try not to miss even the small things.”

This is a matter distinct from the mere ability to manage a schedule. While the activities of top-tier idols are completed through the collaboration of numerous stakeholders—including agencies, production teams, choreographers, and stylists—the extent to which an individual artist's intentions and tastes are reflected is directly linked to their professional identity. What Winter refers to as 'small things' can be interpreted as her resolve not to lose her sense of agency over her own activities.

Her attitude toward new challenges also clearly demonstrates her character. Surprisingly, Winter confessed, “I am actually quite a fearful person,” noting that fear often precedes her attempts to try something new.

She wittily explained the internal thought process that occurs in her head: “‘I'm so scared of something new,’ then ‘No, everyone else is doing it!’, then ‘You have to do it, Minjeong!’, and finally, ‘Why are you the only one who is so scared!’”

While Winter appears on stage with intense performances and confident charisma, she revealed that she actually goes through significant deliberation and anxiety before facing a new challenge. Rather than challenging things because she lacks fear, her approach is closer to taking a step forward even after acknowledging that fear exists.

Winter also revealed that looking back at her past activities, she realized she has taken more challenges than she thought. “One day, I suddenly looked back at the things I've done and realized I've been doing more new things than others,” she said with a laugh. She added, “In reality, I have a lot of fear and worry when it comes to taking on challenges.”

Her solo stage prepared for this upcoming world tour is also connected to this personality. Winter recalled that she has revealed solo stages for new songs about three times during concerts so far, following a 'song-dance-song' pattern. She explained that this time, she naturally decided it was time to bring the dance to the forefront.

The song she chose was even more unexpected. “I really wanted to dance,” Winter said. “None of the people at the company picked this song as the top priority, but I became so fixated on it that I ended up doing it.” The fact that it was a genre she had never attempted before was also a key factor in her choice.

She specifically explained that this solo stage is linked to the concept of the pictorial, describing it as a “Western-mood dance song.” This reflects her will to directly select and implement genres and styles she is drawn to on stage, rather than staying within an already familiar image.

Winter's definition of 'freedom' becomes even clearer at this point. When asked if she currently feels free, she replied, “I think it depends on how you think about it.”

“If I think I am feeling pressured, I feel infinitely oppressed, but if I think I can do it, I feel infinitely free,” she explained.

The profession of an idol inherently involves numerous rules and constraints. Schedules are designed over long periods, performances and music are completed within various production systems, and artists cannot be entirely free from public evaluation and image management. Especially for a group like aespa, which aims for the global market beyond Korea, the responsibilities and burdens placed on the individual naturally increase as the scale of activities grows.

Nevertheless, Winter did not define her situation using the single word 'oppression.' Instead, while acknowledging the professional uniqueness of her position, she sought possibilities for choice within it. “Due to the nature of the job, I also get to enjoy many things that others cannot,” she said. “Rather than a longing to be free, I don't want to lose my current mindset of 'I can do anything.'”

This approach is closer to recognizing the possibility of choice within a given environment, rather than viewing freedom as a state where all external constraints have completely vanished. For a star with high activity levels and difficulty escaping the public eye, it means acknowledging the reality that one cannot do everything as they wish, while securing the domains where they can make their own decisions.

This attitude of Winter is also connected to the growth process of aespa. Since their debut, aespa has expanded its influence both domestically and internationally through a unique worldview, high-intensity performances, and genre experimentation. As the stage arrives where how each member's character and capability expand within the group's musical identity becomes crucial, Winter is moving from a member who simply performs given stages to one who more actively reveals her own choices and colors.

Winter's mindset of 'even if I'm scared, I must do it' is also one facet of this change. The process of choosing a new genre, preparing a different performance, and pushing through her own opinions inevitably carries uncertainty. However, rather than trying to eliminate fear itself, she chose to act while carrying that fear.

Following the release of their second full-length album 'LEMONADE' last May, aespa is currently conducting their new world tour 'SYNK : COMPLæXITY', starting with performances at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul in August and touring 25 regions. As they expand their scope from top-tier domestic girl group to global artists, Winter's new solo stage is expected to demonstrate how far she can expand, just as she said, 'the moment I think I can do it.'

Behind the glamorous stage, the Winter who says “new things are scary” ultimately chooses to take on challenges. And the freedom she defines is not a state devoid of any pressure, but rather a belief that one can take a step in the direction they desire while remaining aware of that pressure. If the most realistic keyword to describe the current Winter is 'freedom,' it is not unrestrained indulgence, but the sense that she can choose for herself.