On March 16, aespa held their final encore concert at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena in Seoul, wrapping up their “Synk: Parallel Line” world tour. The group received a warm reception from thousands of fans, filling the venue with excitement.
However, aespa’s Winter unexpectedly became the target of attacks from some extreme BTS fans (ARMY) after Jungkook attended aespa’s encore concert on March 16. Despite being covered up, Jungkook’s star presence caught the attention of many fans. Currently fulfilling his mandatory military service, he likely took time off to attend aespa’s concert.
Although there were no confirmed interactions between the two artists, some ARMYs quickly speculated about a possible relationship between Winter and Jungkook, fueling dating rumors on social media. As a result, Winter received a wave of unjustified criticism and negative comments from those who believed something was going on between her and the BTS singer.
The controversy quickly gained attention online, with many netizens defending Winter, arguing that these baseless speculations not only damage her reputation but also put unnecessary pressure on her. Some K-pop fans also condemned the behavior of certain ARMYs, emphasizing that an idol attending another artist’s concert does not automatically imply a romantic relationship.
Despite the backlash, many aespa and Winter fans have stepped up to support her, urging people to stop spreading false rumors. Some netizens also pointed out that this is not the first time female idols have been unfairly targeted when linked to male idols. As one of the hottest idols of 4th Gen, this isn’t the first time Winter has been linked with rumors about dating male colleagues. She has also previously been paired with Jungwon (ENHYPEN) and Sungchan (RIIZE).
As of now, neither Winter nor her agency, SM Entertainment, has issued any response regarding the situation.
