Momo of TWICE has sparked widespread concern among fans after revealing a serious health issue she endured during the group’s North American tour—an incident that has quickly ignited debate over artist well-being and management practices.

Taking to social media, Momo shared that she was forced to undergo an emergency tooth extraction while in Chicago after experiencing severe pain that made it impossible for her to rest or continue performing.

“I suddenly had to get a tooth extracted in Chicago, and since it hasn’t been long, the left side of my face is still swollen… Please understand if my face looks a bit puffy,” she wrote.

According to her detailed explanation, the situation escalated rapidly during TWICE’s concert stop in the city. What initially began as discomfort turned into intense pain overnight.

“At the Chicago concert, my tooth hurt so much that I couldn’t sleep at all that night. The next morning, I went to a dentist in Chicago to get it checked,” she explained.

Medical evaluation revealed that a previously treated tooth—one that had undergone root canal therapy—had worsened significantly. Ideally, proper treatment would have required her to return to South Korea. However, with more than a week remaining on the tour schedule and no realistic window for extended care, the situation left her with limited options.

“To treat it properly, I needed to go back to Korea, but I still had over a week left before returning—and even then, I didn’t have enough time for treatment,” she said.

As the pain became unbearable—even with medication—Momo made the difficult decision to proceed with extraction in order to continue performing.

“The pain was so severe that even with painkillers, I didn’t think I could continue performing until I got back to Korea… So I had no choice but to remove it.”

She further clarified that extraction was not the preferred medical solution, but rather a last resort due to time constraints.

“Originally, it wasn’t a tooth that needed to be pulled… but since root canal treatment couldn’t be completed in a single day and I didn’t have time, I decided to extract it after careful discussion with the dentist.”

Despite the procedure, Momo continued to appear on stage, though visible swelling on one side of her face drew attention from fans during performances.

The revelation has intensified concern within the fan community, especially as it comes amid reports that other members, including Dahyun and Chaeyoung, had also missed portions of the tour due to health-related issues.

Online reactions have been swift and emotional, with many fans criticizing JYP Entertainment for what they perceive as an overly demanding schedule.

“This doesn’t just upset me… it makes me angry.”

“This is honestly too much to handle… I feel so bad.”
“They’re in their 20s, not their 60s or 70s—how is this happening?”
“Isn’t this basically mistreatment?”
“Seriously… this has gone too far.”

The situation has reignited ongoing conversations about the physical toll of global touring in the K-pop industry, where tightly packed schedules and international commitments often leave little room for rest or medical care.

While neither TWICE’s agency nor additional members have released further statements regarding schedule adjustments, fans continue to call for improved conditions and greater attention to artist health.

For now, Momo’s candid disclosure has shed light on the realities behind the scenes—reminding many that even at the height of global success, idols often face difficult choices between their health and their responsibilities on stage.