aespa is facing controversy over suspicious Spotify streaming numbers for their new song, “Dirty Work.”
The track debuted at number 63 on the Global Spotify Chart with 1,836,980 streams, according to Kpop Charts.
“Dirty Work” by aespa debuts at #63 on the Global Spotify Chart (1,836,980 streams).
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) June 28, 2025
Netizens quickly flagged that about 625,837 streams—nearly 35% of the total—came from Thailand. Many suspect these numbers are driven by bots or streaming farms.
“Thai bots good job”
— k_lysis (@k_lysis) June 28, 2025“It’s being reported that aespa’s ‘Dirty Work’ has surpassed 1.8 million streams on the Spotify Global Chart, with 625,837 of those coming from Thailand alone, nearly 35% of the total. Are SM’s Thai streaming farms back in business? ”
— َ (@Iuckystarrr) June 28, 2025
Fans and some netizens pushed back, defending aespa’s success despite poor promotion by SM Entertainment.
“wow aespa, with a terrible playlist from your sh!tty company and no payola, you can still chart this high ”
— (@wbmj01) June 28, 2025“bare minimum playlisting, delayed comeback, hate train on twitter, everybody and their mamas on they ass, and they still got the highest debut by a kpop group this year”
— (@sooyafilms) June 28, 2025“Can chart locally and globally. Oh aespa the 4th gen leaders that you are.”
— (@yizhuoning_) June 28, 2025
Photos from Korean fan sites show heavy streaming stats from Thailand but many Korean fans also rejected claims of botting.
The situation is still developing as SM Entertainment has yet to comment on the suspicious streaming figures. Fans remain split between suspicion and support for aespa’s ongoing global presence.
