Dahyun Out in Taipei — But TWICE Plays On

The seat is empty — but the show goes on.

On March 17, JYP Entertainment officially confirmed that TWICE member Dahyun will not be joining her groupmates for their upcoming concerts in Taipei. The announcement is part of a continuing update on Dahyun's ankle injury, which has already kept her off stage during the North American leg of TWICE's "THIS IS FOR" world tour earlier this year.

From North America to Taipei: A Growing Absence

The agency first broke the news in February, stating that Dahyun would sit out the North American dates. At the time, fans hoped it was a short-term precaution. But with Taipei now added to the list, the picture looks more prolonged.

Ankle injuries are notoriously tricky for performers whose work demands constant high-impact movement. In K-pop, where synchronized choreography is as central to a performance as the music itself, a compromised ankle isn't just a physical setback — it's a professional one. JYP Entertainment's decision to keep Dahyun off stage across multiple tour stops suggests the agency is taking the long view, prioritizing full recovery over a rushed return.

That's a reasonable call. It's also one that comes with real costs — for Dahyun, for the group's dynamic on stage, and for fans who bought tickets specifically hoping to see all nine members.

Sponsored

Advertise with Us

[email protected]

Sponsored

What Fans Are Feeling

The reaction from ONCE, TWICE's global fandom, has been a mix of concern and understanding. Social media has seen an outpouring of well-wishes, with fans urging Dahyun to rest and recover fully. That kind of response reflects a maturing fan culture — one that can hold both disappointment and genuine care for an artist's wellbeing at the same time.

Still, for fans in Taipei who may have traveled long distances or waited years for this tour to reach their city, the news stings. In K-pop fandom culture, individual members often carry deep personal significance to fans. A "bias" isn't just a favorite — they're the reason some fans show up. Dahyun's absence isn't a minor footnote for those fans.

The Bigger Question Behind the Headline

Dahyun's situation opens a broader conversation about how the K-pop industry structures its touring cycles. Groups like TWICE, BTS, and BLACKPINK have built global touring operations that span dozens of cities and months of continuous performance. The scale is impressive by any measure. But it also places extraordinary physical demands on artists who are, at the end of the day, human beings with bodies that can break down.

Major agencies do invest in medical support and recovery protocols. But once a tour is underway, the flexibility to pause or restructure is limited. Ticket sales, venue contracts, and promotional commitments create momentum that's hard to stop. When an injury occurs mid-tour, the remaining members absorb the gap, and the machine keeps moving.

TWICE is a nine-member group. Performing as eight — reconfiguring formations, redistributing lines, managing audience expectations — is its own kind of challenge, one that rarely gets acknowledged in the press release.