aespa’s Winter and BTS’ Jung Kook have found themselves at the centre of one of the most intense fan controversies in recent months, as unverified dating rumours spiralled into online harassment, protest trucks, and official legal intervention.
The speculation reignited after posts circulated online claiming the two idols shared a “matching tattoo”, prompting renewed debate across social media and fan forums. While no agency has confirmed any relationship and no evidence has been presented, the rumours quickly snowballed into large-scale reaction from both fandoms.
Online backlash escalates
Following the resurgence of the rumours, Winter became the target of malicious online posts, including defamation, sexual harassment, false rumours, invasion of privacy, and even deepfake content circulating in anonymous communities.
On 10 December, SM Entertainment announced that it had begun criminal and civil action against individuals responsible for these posts. The company confirmed that it had collected evidence and would continue monitoring platforms to protect Winter’s safety, urging the public not to spread unverified claims.
Jung Kook, meanwhile, received a separate wave of backlash from segments of his own fandom still unsettled by the dating speculation. While there is no official confirmation connecting him to Winter, he became a focal point in the growing discourse as rumours continued to circulate.
SM Entertainment has released a statement via KWANGYA 119 regarding aespa WINTER and has confirmed that they have taken legal action against those who have posted malicious content on various platforms targeting WINTER.
— 윈터얼트 (@wntrult) December 10, 2025
“Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We would like to inform… pic.twitter.com/4O0saVpjkx
Protest trucks sent to HYBE
The situation intensified when protest trucks were spotted outside HYBE, Jung Kook’s agency, displaying LED messages demanding he “erase the couple tattoo” and accusing him of “deceiving fans”.
These trucks were directed at Jung Kook, not Winter, but their appearance underscored how the online rumour cycle had escalated into real-world action involving both idols. The origin of the trucks remains unclear, with some fans disavowing any involvement.
HYBE has not issued a public statement addressing the rumours or the protests.
Fans divided
Reaction across fandoms remains sharply split. Some fans condemned the harassment and the escalation, urging others to respect idols’ privacy and criticising the spread of unverified information. Others continued to debate the tattoo speculation, despite no confirmation from either agency.
SM’s decision to pursue legal action has been widely supported by fans concerned about Winter’s wellbeing, while calls for HYBE to address the situation have grown, given Jung Kook’s role in the backlash cycle.
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