ARMY (the BTS fandom) and MY (the aespa fandom) have expressed strong outrage.



On the 10th, some ARMY members sent protest trucks to HYBE’s headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, following the emergence of dating rumors involving BTS member Jungkook and aespa member Winter. 


Speculation intensified online after claims surfaced that the two had similar tattoos and social media patterns, along with accounts alleging that Jungkook attended an aespa concert while serving in the military. As these discussions spread across online communities, rumors that the two are currently dating gained traction. However, neither BigHit Music (BTS’s agency) nor SM Entertainment (aespa’s agency) has released an official statement on the matter.



Frustrated ARMY members eventually sent trucks displaying messages such as: “Deceiving fans and damaging the group — are you in your right mind?”, “If you won’t remove the couple tattoos, step away from BTS activities,” and “This is what we get after waiting for you during your enlistment? Fan betrayal.”



On the 11th, additional trucks appeared with messages including: “Couple tattoos = fan deception,” “Jeon Jungkook, leave BTS,” “We waited through your military service, only to see couple tattoos — unprecedented fan betrayal,” “Jeon Jungkook, you’ve forgotten your duties as an idol. Is this how you repay fans who waited?”, and “The fan deception you showed in 2025 can’t even fit on this screen — you know it better than anyone.”



Meanwhile, MYs held a truck protest in front of SM Entertainment’s headquarters in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, displaying messages such as: “If you want to date loudly, live as the civilian Kim Min-jeong, not aespa’s Winter,” “You’re the one who broke the promise of ‘let’s stay together even 10 years from now,’” “Remove the tattoo. Then come out and explain,” and “Silence is not an answer. Show responsibility.”



Given how significantly dating rumors can damage idols’ public image, these protests are unlikely to settle quickly. Attention now turns to how both agencies will address the rumors surrounding Jungkook and Winter, and whether their responses will calm the anger among fans.




Written by Lee Seung Hun
Translated by Lee So Yun