On December 12, ENHYPEN's Jungwon directly addressed dating rumors involving aespa's Winter during a live broadcast on Weverse, the group’s official fan community platform.
Jungwon candidly interacted with fans, responding to a comment asking if he was dating. “I don’t date,” he firmly stated. Addressing additional rumors, he clarified, “I also don’t smoke. I don’t know how the person who spread this intends to handle the consequences, but I neither date nor smoke. It’s absurd.”
🐈: I don't date, I don't smoke and I don't know how you're planning to deal with the consequences of what you posted
— IYA #1 fan (@woncattos) December 12, 2024
LOUDER #JUNGWON LOUDER!!! pic.twitter.com/HuOUBzB8ZG
This comes after photos and videos surfaced on social media and online communities alleging a year-end date between Jungwon and Winter. However, both SM Entertainment and BELIFT LAB, the respective agencies of Winter and Jungwon, have strongly denied these claims.
SM Entertainment released a statement on December 11, emphasizing that the rumors are “completely unfounded.” The agency explained, “The person who spread these photos contacted a media outlet with the intent of financial gain. After their approach was rejected, they maliciously distributed the content. We will be taking legal action.”
Similarly, BELIFT LAB stated, “The rumors are not true. BELIFT LAB will respond firmly to any actions that invade our artists’ privacy or spread malicious rumors.”
The viral dating speculation originated from online posts claiming that Jungwon and Winter were seen together. The posts included photos and descriptions of alleged interactions, which quickly gained traction on social media before being deleted by the original uploader.
Both agencies’ firm responses underline their commitment to protecting their artists from baseless rumors and online harassment.
What’s your take on agencies addressing such controversies swiftly? Let us know in the comments!