Matching tattoos, shared clothes, agency silence: Are BTS’s Jungkook and aespa’s Winter the next V-Jennie?

Fresh dating speculation surrounding BTS member Jungkook and aespa’s Winter has sent K-pop fans into overdrive, with online communities circulating alleged “evidence” that the two idols may be in a relationship. Neither of their agencies has issued a response, prompting comparisons with the long-running and never-confirmed romance rumours involving BTS’s V and BLACKPINK’s Jennie.

The latest wave of claims gained traction on December 5, when posts began spreading rapidly across Korean platforms and international social media. Fans compiled side-by-side images and screenshots they believe show visual links between the two stars, fuelling intense online debate.

Tattoo claims take centre stage

One of the most widely shared claims centres on what fans say are matching dog-face tattoos placed in similar locations on Jungkook’s and Winter’s arms. Photos of Jungkook showing three small dog faces on his arm were circulated after the release of the second season of his show ‘Are You Sure?!’ on December 4.

A Nate Pann user alleged that the tattoo was visible at the 15:23 mark of the show’s second episode. While some fans dismissed the images as edited or unverified, others seized on them as relationship “proof”.

Additional viral images showed separate photographs of the two idols’ exposed arms, with users arguing that the tattoo outlines appeared strikingly alike. However, the authenticity of these images has not been independently confirmed.

Matching fashion and online ‘clues’

Beyond tattoos, fans have pointed to what they say are overlapping fashion choices, including allegedly identical shorts, slippers and in-ear monitors. Some users also revived earlier theories that Jungkook and Winter once used couple-style social media IDs.

Speculation over their relationship is not new. Rumours first surfaced in 2023 after the pair were reportedly spotted at the same Harry Styles concert in Seoul. Since then, fans have highlighted a series of supposed coincidences, including matching bracelets, similar accessories, aligned nail polish colours and overlapping social media activity times.

While supporters interpret these similarities as signs of closeness, critics continue to argue that such theories amount to excessive scrutiny of private lives.

New fan event photos intensify speculation

The debate escalated further on 6 December after Koreaboo released photos showing Winter wearing oversized shorts and slippers at a fan meeting. Fans immediately claimed the clothing appeared to match items commonly worn by Jungkook and noted that the unusually loose fit suggested they might not belong to her.

Observers described the outfit as the most convincing example yet of a shared personal item, adding to previous claims involving headphones, tattoos and coordinated styling. Around the same time, reports also circulated that Jungkook attended an aespa concert during his military leave to support Winter.

Reactions online were mixed. Some fans criticised Winter’s outfit choice for a public fan event, describing it as “inappropriate” or “strange”, while others said the backlash exposed unrealistic expectations placed on idols’ personal lives.

Silence from agencies echoes V-Jennie saga

Despite the renewed attention, both BigHit Music and SM Entertainment have declined to comment. When contacted by South Korean media, BigHit reportedly stated that it did not wish to respond.

For many fans, the ongoing silence mirrors the years-long speculation involving BTS’s V and BLACKPINK’s Jennie. That earlier rumour cycle was also driven by eyewitness reports and leaked photos, including images allegedly showing the pair together in Paris. Despite repeated public interest, neither agency ever confirmed the relationship, nor acknowledged reports of a later breakup.

As with the V-Jennie situation, fans now speculate whether the Jungkook-Winter rumours will follow the same pattern – repeated viral posts, growing public debate and no official stance.

RM’s livestream remarks add to public debate

Further attention was drawn to the situation after BTS leader RM addressed personal autonomy during a recent livestream. Though he did not mention Jungkook or the dating rumours directly, many viewers felt his comments reflected the group’s current reality.

RM said, “And now, as you all know, with this job, whenever something happens, or when there’s an issue, or when something is about to come out and people talk about what the behind-the-scenes are like – I can’t really explain everything in detail right now.

What I really want to say is that I can no longer represent our team on my own. That’s because I’m just one person, one human being.

Back then, around 2017 and 2018, when we were actively promoting as BTS, I feel like I could do that to some extent. But after that, each of the members became fully independent individuals, each with their own boundaries, their own lifestyles, personalities, and ways of living.

So now, the idea that I should go to the company due to the members, or that I should somehow control or manage what the members do, that doesn’t really apply anymore. There were so many times when our team was on the verge of being disrupted or stopped entirely, as you all know, so I’m extremely grateful that we’re still able to be together.”

Some fans interpreted RM’s words as quiet frustration at being linked to controversies beyond his control simply because of his leadership role.

No confirmation as rumours continue

Through 2024, speculation surrounding Jungkook and Winter has surfaced repeatedly, driven by alleged overlaps in accessories, public appearances and online behaviour. Each instance has reignited fan discussion, but neither artist has ever confirmed any romantic connection.

As new claims continue emerging almost daily and both agencies maintain their silence, fans remain divided between those treating the rumours as harmless curiosity and those urging respect for the artists’ privacy.

For now, as with the V-Jennie saga before it, the Jungkook-Winter story remains unresolved – sustained only by online speculation and the absence of any official confirmation.