Dating rumors between BTS’s Jungkook and aespa’s Winter have resurfaced after the sudden appearance of a new Instagram account that fans believe belongs to Jungkook. On July 15, ARMYs were surprised to find that all BTS members were following a mysterious account with the handle @mnijungkook, which had no posts but was quickly assumed to be his. The group’s history of only following each other on social media made the assumption even stronger.
What sparked immediate speculation was the username itself. Fans theorized that “mni” could reference Minjeong, Winter’s real name, interpreting the handle as “MinJungkook.” This theory caused dating rumors between the two idols to trend once more, just weeks after similar speculation had been dismissed as unfounded. Back in early July, netizens had pointed to small coincidences—like matching accessories and shared gym habits—as “evidence” of a relationship, but most fans and K-media outlets regarded them as baseless.
Adding to the speculation, it was uncovered that the account had originally been created under the handle @imjungkook, closely resembling Winter’s username @imwinter. Though this coincidence caught attention, things were quickly clarified by Jungkook himself.
In a livestream following the online frenzy, Jungkook directly addressed the rumors and explained that “mnijungkook” simply stood for “My Name Is Jungkook.” He emphasized that there was no hidden meaning or reference to anyone else, firmly shutting down the speculation.
Despite his clarification, the dating rumors continued to circulate online. However, a large number of fans came to Jungkook’s and Winter’s defense, calling the theories a reach and urging others to respect the idols’ privacy. Many emphasized the importance of not overanalyzing small details or assuming romantic involvement based on social media activity.
As of now, there is no confirmed relationship between Jungkook and Winter, and the evidence remains speculative at best. Still, the buzz surrounding Jungkook’s new Instagram account shows just how closely fans follow every move of their favorite idols—sometimes a little too closely.
