K-pop fans are in full-blown detective mode after a fresh wave of “evidence” sparked dating rumors between BTS’ Jung Kook and aespa’s Winter — and the silence from both of their companies is only adding fuel to the fire.
The speculation sparked across Korean forums and social media on December 5, with users stitching together photos, screenshots and side-by-side comparisons they believe point to something more than coincidence.
Making things even more interesting? Both HYBE and SM Entertainment have kept noticeably silent. For agencies that usually waste no time denying dating rumors, the lack of response is… interesting.
One of the biggest talking points? Tattoos. Fans claim Jung Kook and Winter may have nearly identical dog-face tattoos in the same spot on their arms, pointing to zoomed in photos showing similar shapes and placement. The images spread so fast that “dog tattoo” practically became its own fandom keyword overnight.
Others noted what they say are matching outfit pieces — including shorts, slippers, and even in-ear monitors — insisting the items look suspiciously alike. A few users also resurfaced old theories that the two allegedly used couple-style social media usernames at one point.
Of course, Jung Kook and Winter’s relationship statuses remain mysteries — which isn’t unusual for K-pop idols. Dating in the industry is notoriously difficult, often hidden until a photo leaks or speculation gets too loud to ignore. Some labels even have strict dating bans, making public relationships nearly impossible.
One of the more recent dating rumors for Jung Kook was back in September 2019, when it was rumored that he was seeing Lee Mi-joo, a tattoo artist who worked at a parlor that he visited that year. In response to the rumors, Big Hit Entertainment immediately released a statement saying that Jung Kook and Lee Mi-joo were just friends.
“During his visit to Geojedo, he realized his circle of tattooist acquaintances was also visiting there, so he hung out with them,” the record label said. “We are sorry that his private life during his extended break had to be distorted like this.” Lee Mi-joo also gave a statement denying the rumors after she started receiving online hate.
While Jung Kook has never confirmed a romance and most past rumors fizzled out quickly, BTS has addressed the topic before. In their June 2021 Rolling Stone cover story, Suga explained how fans react to the idea of the members dating. “The ARMY is a diverse group,” he said. “In this hypothetical situation, some may accept it, some may not. Whether it’s dating or something else, they’re all individuals, and they will understand things differently.”
For now, Jung Kook and Winter’s alleged romance remains just that — alleged.
