On December 12, during a live broadcast on the fan communication platform Weverse, Jungwon was asked about the rumors by fans. He responded firmly, saying, “I’m not dating anyone, and I don’t smoke either.”
The dating rumors began on December 10 when a netizen posted a photo of a man and woman on social media, leading to speculation about a relationship between Jungwon and Winter.
Jungwon expressed frustration over the situation, adding, “I honestly don’t know how the people who posted this are going to deal with it. I’m not dating, and I don’t smoke. It’s absurd.”
ENHYPEN’s agency, BELIFT LAB, also released a statement on December 11, firmly denying the rumors. The agency stated, “The dating rumors are not true,” and announced their intent to take strong action against the spread of malicious rumors that invade their artist’s privacy.
BELIFT LAB added, “We will take all necessary legal measures to protect our artist’s reputation.”
aespa’s agency, SM Entertainment, also officially denied the rumors on the same day. SM explained, “The individual who spread the photo attempted to contact a media outlet for monetary gain. However, when the outlet refused to accept submissions with financial motives, the individual maliciously spread the photos.” SM further stated, “We will take legal action regarding this matter.”
The agencies of both idols have emphasized their commitment to protecting their artists and addressing the spread of false information through legal means.
