Dating rumors involving BTS member Jungkook and aespa's Winter have exploded into a full-blown K-pop scandal, with SM Entertainment filing legal action and angry fans staging protest truck demonstrations outside HYBE headquarters.
What Sparked the Rumors?
While speculation about Jungkook and Winter's relationship has circulated for over 2 years, the rumors intensified dramatically this week after fans compiled a mountain of "matching clues":youtube
- Matching dog-face tattoos on both their arms with identical designs
- Matching nail art on their ring fingers
- Similar accessories and styling choices
- Jungkook spotted at an aespa concert
- Winter accidentally saying Jungkook's real name during a livestream
- Alleged overlapping flight schedules and airport sightings
- Hidden Instagram account connections traced by fans (usernames: "I am Jungkook" vs. "I am Winter")
The Fansite Leak That Changed Everything
On December 8, alleged private messages from Winter's fansite masters leaked on X, claiming they had physically seen Jungkook and Winter together multiple times—including at airports and abroad.
One leaked message read: "Actually, if I told you that I saw him on the same flight as aespa on arrival day, would that explain why I briefly died?"
Another fansite allegedly said: "Honestly, I'm so fed up with being harassed by his fans that I just wish they'd deny it."
The leaked messages sparked massive discussions, with some fans treating them as "confirmation," while others questioned their authenticity.
SM Entertainment Fights Back – Legal Action Launched
On December 10, SM Entertainment issued a stern statement titled "Updates on legal measures to protect Winter's rights," warning against malicious posts, sexual harassment, and defamation targeting the aespa member.
Key Points from SM's Statement:
- Pursuing criminal and civil action against individuals creating malicious content
- Identifying harassment on platforms: DC Inside, Women's Generation, Nate Pann, Instiz, Theqoo, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube
- Taking zero leniency against those spreading false rumors and sexual harassment
- Expanding complaints in stages
The timing of SM's statement is widely interpreted as a direct response to Winter's surge in hate comments following the dating rumors.
Jungkook's Response Backfires – And He Posted... Ramen?
On December 9, instead of addressing the rumors, Jungkook posted an Instagram story: a bowl of ramen with no comment (a repost of RM's story).
The internet erupted. Fans expected him to break his silence or deny the dating rumors, but instead got... food.
Reactions on X included:
- "I'm jealous of how thoughtless he is. He really does not care if the other members get criticised because of him."
- "He's basically pushing fans to leave the fandom."
- "Such a cold attitude… If he doesn't like being an idol, maybe he should just quit."
- "He just reposted a ramen picture without a single word, lol."
Some fans also defended him, saying: "Everyone, just leave them alone. Youth is something you can't buy with money. Are they supposed to wait until they're forty to date?"
Protest Truck Outside HYBE Headquarters
On December 10, a faction of angry fans parked a protest truck outside HYBE's Seoul headquarters, demanding that the company provide clarity and reportedly calling for Jungkook to address the situation.
The truck displayed messages criticizing Jungkook's silence and the way the situation is being handled.
Official Silence from BOTH Agencies
Neither HYBE nor SM Entertainment has released a statement addressing the dating rumors directly.
Many interpret this silence as:
- Possible acknowledgment of the relationship (since a denial would typically be swift)
- Strategic avoidance of fueling the controversy further
- A wait-and-see approach to let the rumors die down
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | Jungkook & Winter attend Harry Styles concert together in Seoul | web |
| December 6, 2025 | Dating rumors resurface with "matching clues" compilation | |
| December 8, 2025 | Winter's fansite alleged private messages leak on X | |
| December 9, 2025 | Jungkook posts ramen story; fans react negatively | |
| December 10, 2025 | SM Entertainment files legal action against malicious posts | , |
| December 10, 2025 | Protest truck appears outside HYBE headquarters | , |
Why This Is Trending Now
This is THE biggest K-pop dating scandal in weeks because:
- Two of the biggest stars involved – Jungkook (BTS, ~80M+ followers) and Winter (aespa, ~25M+ followers)
- The "proof" feels concrete – matching tattoos, coordinated accessories, and fansite testimonies are harder to dismiss than typical dating rumors
- Both agencies' silence – Usually denials come quickly; the silence fuels speculation
- Fandom drama – Some fans are furious, others defend them, and the division is ugly
- Protest truck – The escalation to organized fan protests shows how serious some are
- SM's legal response – The crackdown signals SM is taking this seriously enough to pursue legal action
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