Dating rumors between aespa’s Winter and BTS’s Jungkook continue to circulate online, with netizens now revisiting an old comment made by Winter that some claim was an unusually bold hint at a romantic relationship.
The controversy resurfaced after fans reexamined a video uploaded on January 13 to aespa’s official YouTube channel, titled “Today, I’m a Western Cuisine Chef.” In the video, Winter appears alongside celebrity chef Napoli Mafia, winner of Culinary Class War, as she learns how to make fresh pasta.
While operating a pasta machine, Winter suddenly looked into the camera and said, “Hey, are you watching?” When the chef asked, “Who are you talking to?” Winter repeated, “Are you watching?” while smiling.
Although the on-screen caption clarified the remark as “MYs (aespa’s fandom), are you watching?”, some netizens were unconvinced. They argued that the tone and phrasing—especially the casual use of “Hey”—felt unusual when addressing fans.
“If she were talking to fans, she would’ve said something like ‘MYs, are you watching?’ instead,” one commenter claimed, suggesting the message may have been directed at Jungkook instead.
Online reactions quickly intensified, with comments such as “Isn’t this way too obvious?” and “She’s enjoying the thrill” appearing across community forums. While many acknowledged that idols have the right to date, critics argued that “openly hinting at a relationship while maintaining a fan-driven image crosses a line.”
The renewed speculation builds on earlier rumors sparked by alleged couple tattoos. Netizens pointed out that both Winter and Jungkook have dog-themed tattoos in similar positions on their arms. Winter reportedly has three connected dog faces tattooed near her elbow, while Jungkook has been seen with a dog-style tattoo on his arm—leading to claims of a coordinated design.
Fans have also highlighted overlapping fashion items, including bracelets, shorts, and in-ear monitor designs. Another frequently cited “clue” involves both idols allegedly wearing similar-colored nail polish on the same finger—the ring finger—just one day apart, which some interpreted as “couple nails.”
Adding fuel to the rumors, Jungkook’s past attendance at an aespa concert during military leave has been reexamined. Some netizens pointed out that Jungkook had not previously been seen attending concerts by HYBE-affiliated girl groups, prompting speculation that his presence at aespa’s show was tied to Winter.
Neither SM Entertainment nor HYBE has issued an official statement regarding the renewed rumors. As with many high-profile idol dating speculations, the situation remains rooted in interpretation rather than confirmed facts.
Still, the resurfaced comment and accumulating “evidence” have once again placed Winter and Jungkook at the center of intense online debate—highlighting how even a single sentence can reignite massive scrutiny in the K-pop world.
Sources: Yonhap News,Sports Kyunghyang