Rumors involving aespa’s Winter and BTS’s Jungkook spread rapidly across online communities on December 4, drawing major attention. Despite the buzz, both SM Entertainment and HYBE have remained silent, offering no official statements. Surprisingly, early reactions from fans are relatively calm compared to past controversies.
The original report stated, “Although dating rumors between aespa’s Winter and BTS’s Jungkook spread rapidly online on the 4th, both agencies have remained silent without releasing any official position.”
This ongoing silence has led some netizens to speculate that it may be “practically an indirect acknowledgment.”
A Noticeable Contrast With Karina’s Previous Scandal
Many fans remember the intense backlash when Winter’s fellow aespa member Karina was involved in a dating rumor with actor Lee Jae-wook last year. At the time, some fans carried out strong protests— including sending a protest truck to the agency. Karina eventually posted a handwritten apology, and the relationship reportedly ended just a month later.
The article highlighted this by noting, “When Karina’s dating rumor with actor Lee Jae-wook broke out last year, she faced fierce opposition from fans… Eventually, Karina posted a handwritten apology.”
However, in the case of Winter and Jungkook, both aespa’s fandom “MYs” and BTS’s “ARMY” have not shown extreme backlash. While the agencies remain silent, neither fandom appears to be organizing protests or showing anger, leading to discussions that this situation feels “different” from past idol dating scandals.
Why Are Fans So Calm This Time?
Several factors may explain the unexpectedly mild fan response:
- Changing attitudes toward idols dating — Fans are becoming more accepting compared to previous generations.
- Lack of concrete evidence — Without photos or solid proof, many fans prefer not to jump to conclusions.
- Backlash fatigue — After past intense scandals, fans may be unwilling to repeat emotionally charged reactions.
- Fandom maturity — ARMY and MYs are known for being organized and measured in their responses.
In the meantime, aespa continues to prepare for their year-end schedule. According to the report, “aespa will appear on the Japanese year-end music program ‘Kōhaku Uta Gassen’ on the 31st.” This marks a major milestone for the group.
As for Jungkook, his individual activities remain paused as he prepares for military enlistment, adding to the ambiguity of the situation.
For now, the dating rumors remain unconfirmed. With both agencies staying silent, curiosity continues to grow—but without the explosive reactions of past idol dating issues.
Sources: Sports Seoul,Nate