From “Evidence” To Denials: ENHYPEN Jungwon And aespa Winter’s Dating Rumors Explained
ENHYPEN‘s Jungwon and aespa‘s Winter were recently swept up in dating rumors. How did the rumors start? What’s the latest update? From the first alleged sighting to Jungwon’s statement, here’s a recap of everything that has happened so far.
Photographic “Evidence” Of A Bar Date
On December 10 (KST), a post on X (formerly Twitter) claimed that Jungwon and Winter had been spotted at the same bar in Chungdam (a ward of Gangnam District in Seoul). The meeting allegedly happened in late October. The post claimed that although the idols had left separately, they’d been together inside the bar. The evidence? This photo of a masked man…
…and this photo of a woman identified as Winter. She was dressed in the same red tracksuit Winter had worn during a dance challenge. That same night, Jungwon was reportedly spotted around 2:30 AM in Yongsan (where their dorms are located) while wearing what appeared to be the same outfit from the bar.
Jungwon’s voice could also allegedly be heard in a video shared by this X user.
— 수파두파💫 (@SUPADUPAMY) December 10, 2024
Agencies’ Statements
ENHYPEN’s agency, BE:LIFT Lab, stated that the rumors were untrue. They added, “BE:LIFT Lab will take strong action against acts that invade the artist’s privacy as well as create and spread malicious rumors.”
aespa’s agency SM Entertainment stated, via Korean news outlet OSEN, that Winter and Jungwon are not dating.
The individual who distributed the photos contacted a media outlet with the intent of monetary gain and attempted to communicate with us directly. However, when the media outlet refused to facilitate the tip-off for monetary purposes, the individual spread the photos online with malicious intent. We will be taking legal action.
— SM Entertainment
An Alleged Hotel Date
After SM Entertainment denied the rumors, a post on Douban gained traction. The post claimed to have other evidence that the idols were dating, gathered by sasaengs (stalker fans). The sasaengs, who had the idols’ phone numbers, claimed that Winter and Jungwon had matching display names on Kakaotalk. Winter allegedly used the Korean character “ㅇ” while Jungwon used “ddd,” the same letters on a keyboard.
The post also claimed that the idols used a lesser-known messenger app to text each other during a Prada event Jungwon attended on October 24, 2024. These sasaengs also claimed to have discovered that Jungwon’s alleged private Instagram follows Winter. It also follows a meme page that Winter accidentally followed. The last piece of “evidence” was a phone call Jungwon reportedly made to a cab on October 25, 2024. The sasaengs who followed the cab claimed that Jungwon was driven to the carpark of a hotel or an apartment complex.
TWICE’s Nayeon And TREASURE’s Asahi
In the midst of Jungwon and Winter’s dating rumors, an X user claimed that Nayeon and Asahi were present during the alleged bar date. Rather than Jungwon and Winter, the netizen claimed that Winter and Asahi were actually the ones in a relationship. The now-deleted post included photos of Asahi grabbing a cab and his alleged couple ring with Winter.
Wait a minute, what’s this? Is this the second coming of the Orange Room incident?
— X post caption
The rumor was debunked after fans pointed out that the photo of Asahi was photoshopped. The manipulated photo used a real photo of Asahi with his TREASURE members.
Jungwon’s Smoking Rumors
As if dating rumors weren’t enough, rumors emerged that Jungwon is a smoker. This viral X post claimed that he had been caught in the act. The photo caption reads, “Jungwon normally says he does not like to go out, but actually he often goes outside late at night to smoke.”
이게 바로 평소에 얌전한 척하는 아이야
#정원#enhypen pic.twitter.com/3U9ua4T3lG— /₩(₩72(₩( (@Eve641392668776) December 11, 2024
This is the kid who normally pretends to be meek and obedient.
— Eve641392668776
Jungwon Personally Denies The Rumors
On December 12, 2024, personally addressed the rumors during a livestream. He denied both smoking and dating.
“저 연애 안하고요
담배가 안 피고요
올리신분들 뒤에 어떻게 감당하려고 하시는지는 모르겠는데…”
ㅠㅠㅠ 정원아 사랑해ㅠㅠ 🫳🏻🫳🏻🫳🏻 pic.twitter.com/98aLBvg9iI— 뿌 (@sheepbabu) December 12, 2024
I’m not dating, and there was something about me smoking too. I don’t smoke either. I don’t know how those people [who uploaded the photos] are going to deal with the consequences, but I’m not dating, neither am I smoking.
— Jungwon
