The Kpop “hotbed” is once again in turmoil, and the center of attention is none other than Winter (aespa) – the beauty currently suffering the ordeal of being “Jungkook’s (BTS) rumored girlfriend.” A single small action at their latest concert has divided netizens into two fiercely warring factions: some are furious at feeling betrayed, while others feel sorry for the excessive scrutiny.
The 96-97 singer-actress couple’s secret dating rumors surfaced before Valentine’s Day, and the couple themselves have spoken out.
The incident originated from aespa’s most recent concert in Hong Kong (China). Amidst the visually stunning performances, eagle-eyed netizens quickly noticed something unusual on Winter’s arm. Specifically, the tattoo of three puppies – which netizens speculated was a “couple tattoo,” a token of affection with BTS’s golden maknae, Jungkook – had completely disappeared. Instead, the tattoo was covered with a bandage. Winter’s seemingly normal stage performance unexpectedly became the spark for a truth-battle on social media.
A large segment of fans, especially die-hard fans, were truly “furious” over this action. The wave of criticism against Winter intensified with the harshest language. The main argument from this side was a feeling of betrayal and deception. They argued that Winter’s actions—sometimes revealing dating “hints,” sometimes deliberately concealing them to sell concert tickets or ask fans for album donations—were disrespectful to her fans.
The most hurtful phrase repeatedly mentioned was “ATM machine.” Many harsh comments stated: “Does she only see her fans as mobile ATMs? When she needs money, she hides her boyfriend to create false hope for her fans, while secretly maintaining a loving relationship?”, “If she wants to be in a relationship, she should do it publicly. She doesn’t want to have both the love of a superstar and the ‘bread and butter’ from her fans. She’s too greedy!”… This anger stems from a possessive mentality and the excessive expectations placed on the idol. When the “dream girlfriend” image crumbles, that love easily turns into hatred.
On the other hand, many more level-headed netizens have spoken out in defense of Winter. They argue that public opinion is unreasonably “going crazy” and scrutinizing the artist’s private life excessively. “What if she covered her tattoo? It could be due to the TV station’s regulations, the song’s concept, or simply because she wanted to. Why accuse her of deception?”, one comment countered.
Those defending her emphasize the immense pressure of being rumored to be dating a global star like Jungkook. Every move Winter makes is scrutinized and interpreted in the most negative way. Her covering up a tattoo might simply be a way to protect herself from the toxic backlash, not because she wants to “mine” fans for money.
Close-up of Winter and Jungkook’s “controversial” matching tattoo. Photo: X
The story of Winter’s fleeting tattoo is just the straw that broke the camel’s back in the complicated relationship between idols, fans, and private love. Whatever the truth may be, Winter is clearly at the center of a storm of criticism. Pleasing the public while bearing the title of “Jungkook’s rumored girlfriend” seems like an impossible task at this moment.
Rumors of a romantic relationship between Jungkook and Winter caused a stir in late 2025 after netizens discovered many coincidences such as similar tattoos, similar accessories, and the male singer attending aespa’s concert. Some fans even reacted so strongly that they staged a truck protest in front of the management company’s headquarters, accusing Jungkook of “deceiving fans” and demanding that he remove the matching tattoos or temporarily suspend his activities with BTS.
Winter also faced a cold attitude from some fans, enduring a “silent black sea” on the red carpet, showing the significant psychological pressure on the female singer. These controversies made the unconfirmed relationship a hot topic for months, with the fan community deeply divided. To date, neither management company has issued a statement confirming or denying the relationship, allowing speculation to continue.
To date, neither management company has issued a statement confirming or denying the relationship. Photo: X
Jungkook’s full name is Jeon Jungkook, born on September 1, 1997. Before his debut, Jungkook was sought after by many major entertainment companies after auditioning for the show Superstar K. However, he decided to join Big Hit Entertainment (now part of HYBE Labels) after being impressed by leader RM. Jungkook officially debuted with BTS in 2013. With his outstanding talent in many fields, he quickly became a key member of the group, taking on many important roles.
Jungkook is known by the nickname “Golden Maknae,” given to him by the other members of the group. This nickname stems from his versatility in almost every field. Regarding his private life, Jungkook has been rumored to have dated several stars such as Lisa and Rosé (BTS).
(BLACKPINK), Shin Hyunji, Lee Yu Bi…
Meanwhile, Winter, whose real name is Kim Minjeong, was born on January 1, 2001. The idol was born in Busan, South Korea, and spent her childhood in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam. Coming from a family with a military tradition, Winter initially dreamed of becoming a soldier. With a passion for singing and dancing, Winter decided to pursue an idol career. She trained at SM Entertainment for about four years. Winter once shared that she failed SM’s auditions three times before being accepted into the company.
In 2020, Winter debuted with aespa. In aespa, she holds the positions of Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer, and Visual. aespa is a girl group with a unique concept, combining the real and virtual worlds (metaverse), and is SM Entertainment’s first girl group since Red Velvet debuted in 2014. aespa quickly achieved success, leading the 4th generation of K-pop. Winter is highly praised for her striking beauty, powerful vocals, and strong performance skills. She is often lauded for her innocent beauty and the quintessential “SM visual” image.
Going crazy over…
