SM Entertainment on Wednesday announced plans to take legal action against individuals responsible for malicious posts and comments targeting aespa member Winter amid circulating dating rumors with BTS member Jungkook.
The agency issued a formal statement detailing the scope of its legal response to the rumors. In the statement, SM Entertainment identified numerous defamatory posts, sexual harassment content, and fabricated rumors spread across multiple online platforms, including DC Inside, Women's Era, Nate Pann, Instiz, Theqoo, Instagram, X, and YouTube. The agency also said it plans to pursue civil and criminal action against individuals who have created malicious posts targeting Winter on those platforms and other online communities.
"Please be advised that we will respond strictly without leniency, and we urge everyone to avoid becoming involved in such misconduct," the statement read. "We will continue to do our utmost to protect the rights and interests of our artists in every possible way."
The legal action comes on the heels of online speculation that started early this week when dating rumors between Winter and Jungkook circulated on Korean social media. Some netizens further fueled the rumors, claiming the two artists shared matching tattoos of three dog heads on their arms and had also pointed out that they wore similar fashion items and accessories on separate occasions, per Korea JoongAng Daily.
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Additional details cited by online users include similarities in the content they shared, including matching music selections. Netizens further pointed out that Jungkook's former Instagram handle @mnijungkook was potentially related to Winter's real name, Kim Min-jung. Although the BTS singer later clarified that his handle stood for his name.
Since the rumors began circulating, neither SM Entertainment nor HYBE—the parent company of Jungkook's agency Big Hit Music—has issued statements. Neither Winter nor Jungkook has confirmed or denied the dating rumors.
Both idols have previously been the subject of dating rumors. Jungkook has been linked to a former classmate, a tattoo artist named Lee Mijoo, actress Lee Yu Bi, and BLACKPINK's Lisa. Winter has been linked to ENHYPEN's Jungwon—a rumor she personally shut down.
