aespa Winter's Cooking Video Comment Sparks Fresh Jungkook Dating Rumors in 2025
A casual remark during a pasta-making session has reignited intense speculation about a possible romance between aespa's Winter and BTS's Jungkook, with fans scrutinizing every word for hidden meanings.
The YouTube Moment That Set Off Alarms
During aespa's January 13, 2025 YouTube video featuring "Culinary Class Wars" winner Napoli Matfia teaching Winter to make fresh pasta, the idol suddenly looked directly at the camera and said, "Ya bogo issnya?"-roughly translating to "Hey, are you watching?"
When Napoli Matfia asked who she was talking to, Winter smiled and repeated, "Are you watching?" The video's captions indicated she was addressing "MYs" (aespa's official fandom), but online communities weren't buying it.
Critics immediately pointed out that Winter's use of "ya" (a casual Korean term similar to "hey") seemed unusually informal for addressing fans. Many argued she would typically say something like "MYs, are you watching?" based on her past communication style.
The comment section exploded with theories. "Too obvious," some wrote. Others accused Winter of "enjoying the thrill" of dropping hints while disregarding fan relationships.
How These Rumors Started
The Winter-Jungkook speculation isn't new. It first popped up in 2023 when both attended a Harry Styles concert in the same VIP section, but quickly faded.
Things heated up again in July 2025 after Jungkook changed his Instagram username to "mnijungkook." Some fans speculated "mni" could reference Winter's real name, Minjeong-though Jungkook explained it simply means "my name is Jungkook."
The rumors reached fever pitch in December 2025 when netizens noticed both artists have tattoos featuring three dog faces on their arms. This sparked widespread "couple tattoo" theories across Korean social media platforms.
Fans have since compiled what they consider "evidence": matching accessories, similar nail polish colors spotted days apart, shared Instagram song selections, and various other coincidences that skeptics dismiss as meaningless overlaps.
The Concert Visit That Won't Go Away
One detail keeps resurfacing: Jungkook attended aespa's March 2025 Seoul concert during his military leave. He was spotted at the SYNK: PARALLEL LINE encore show at KSPO DOME, heavily disguised in a black jacket, mask, and fur hat. Fans recognized him anyway-mainly by his distinctive eyes.
What made this notable to some was that Jungkook hadn't been seen attending concerts by HYBE's own girl groups like NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, or ILLIT. Online communities questioned whether his aespa appearance meant something special, though there's no confirmation about his relationship with Winter or the group.
Jungkook completed his military service on June 11, 2025, alongside BTS member Jimin.
SM Entertainment Responds With Legal Action
On December 10, 2025, SM Entertainment issued a stern warning about protecting Winter from online harassment. The agency said it's "fully aware" of serious defamatory content including sexual harassment, personal attacks, privacy violations, and deepfakes targeting the singer.
The company named specific platforms-DC Inside, Nate Pann, Instiz, TheQoo, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube-where it identified malicious posts damaging Winter's reputation.
SM Entertainment confirmed it's pursuing both criminal and civil action against individuals who created or spread harmful content, with more complaints planned as they review additional evidence. The agency stated it will "respond firmly and without leniency."
Fan Backlash Reaches New Heights
The situation has created real-world consequences. Protest trucks appeared outside HYBE headquarters demanding Jungkook address the situation. At the December 25, 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon red carpet, Winter received noticeably muted applause compared to the loud cheers greeting her groupmates.
Observers noted that Winter's tattoo wasn't visible at the event, appearing to be covered with makeup-fueling additional speculation about whether she deliberately concealed it.
Meanwhile, Jungkook seemed unbothered. On December 10, he posted a photo eating ramen with BTS member RM, projecting normalcy despite the controversy swirling around him.
The Silence Speaks Volumes
Neither HYBE nor SM Entertainment has directly confirmed or denied the dating rumors. This silence stands out because both companies have quickly shut down baseless speculation in the past-HYBE denied Jungkook's 2021 dating rumors with actress Lee Yu Bi, while Winter dismissed speculation about ENHYPEN's Jungwon in December 2024.
The lack of official statements has created different interpretations. Some see it as implicit acknowledgment, while others note that companies often refuse to dignify unfounded rumors with responses, especially when addressing them might inadvertently validate the speculation.
What's Next for Both Artists
BTS is preparing for their group comeback in spring 2026, with all seven members now reunited after completing military service. aespa announced their second full album will drop in 2026, and the group continues their SYNK: AEXIS LINE world tour through April 26, 2026 in Tokyo.
Winter recently appeared on the cover of ELLE D Edition's digital special project, while aespa continues performing at major year-end music shows. Despite the ongoing controversy, the group remains focused on their tour and upcoming releases.
As SM Entertainment takes increasingly firm legal action against malicious online content, the question remains whether these rumors represent genuine romantic interest or simply coincidence amplified by fan speculation. Neither Jungkook nor Winter has publicly addressed the matter, leaving fans to draw their own conclusions from cryptic comments and circumstantial "evidence."
