Release of aespa’s culture universe video postponed for a day

Girl group aespa with its ″ae″ virtual counterparts, ae-aespa [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

The release of girl group aespa’s culture universe video, set for Wednesday, has been postponed for a day due to technical glitches, according to the group's agency SM Entertainment.

“Hello, we would like to inform you that aespa’s SM Culture Universe 'ep.3 Girls (Don’t you know I’m a Savage?)' planned to premier today at 6PM KST will be postponed to tomorrow (2/23) 6PM KST” said the agency on the girl group’s official Twitter and Instagram page.

The statement said that this is due to “technical difficulties” but did not offer any further details.

“We apologize to all the fans who have been patiently waiting for aespa’s SM Culture Universe ep.3 and would like to ask for your kind understanding. Thank you,” the statement released both in Korean and in English read.

The episode will explain the girl group’s fictional universe in further detail, concluding the first season of the girl group’s culture universe series.

The videos explaining aespa’s fictional universe are a key part of the group's identity as it debuted with a metaverse concept — with four extra “ae” virtual avatars who are “ae-aespa” members, alongside the four real members — Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning. The metaverse concept for aespa is known to be designed by the founder of the agency, Lee Soo-man.

The girl group will hold its first concert, “Synk : Hyper Line” on Feb. 25 and 26, in Jamsil Arena, southern Seoul, followed by concerts in Japan in March and April. aespa’s first full-length album is also in production, planned for release in April.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]