BTS’ Jungkook and aespa’s Winter dating rumors draw comparisons to V and Jennie as agencies stay silent
From left, Jungkook, Winter, Jennie, and V / Xportsnews
K-pop fans are in a frenzy as a wave of alleged “evidence” fuels dating rumors between BTS member Jungkook and aespa’s Winter — while both of their agencies remain completely silent, prompting speculation that the pattern may mirror the long-running V–Jennie saga.
Posts alleging that the two idols are in a relationship spread rapidly across Korean online communities and global social media Dec. 5, with users compiling what they claim are visual clues linking the pair.
One of the most circulated claims is that Jungkook and Winter have similar dog-face tattoos placed in nearly the same spot on their arms. Photos showing the artists’ exposed arms — with fans pointing to tattoo shapes they argue appear alike — quickly went viral, becoming the centerpiece of the fast-moving rumor.
Other users pointed to matching fashion items such as shorts, slippers, and in-ear monitors, asserting that several were identical or shared unusually similar designs. Some also revived speculation that the two once used couple-style social media IDs, adding further fuel to the online debate.
Jungkook, left, and Winter / Xportsnews
Despite the escalating buzz, neither BigHit Music nor SM Entertainment has issued a statement. For many fans, the silence is reminiscent of the years-long dating rumors involving BTS member V and BLACKPINK’s Jennie — rumors that also began with eyewitness accounts and leaked private photos, including images allegedly showing the pair spending time together in Paris. Both sides consistently declined to confirm the relationship, and even reports of their eventual breakup went unacknowledged.
With new alleged “evidence” involving Jungkook and Winter surfacing almost daily and both agencies maintaining what fans see as a telling quiet, speculation is growing over whether this rumor will follow the same path: viral posts, widespread debate, and no official confirmation.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
