aespa member Winter has become the subject of renewed attention following an unexpected moment during a recent red carpet event, with some observers questioning whether ongoing dating rumors involving BTS’s Jungkook may have influenced the atmosphere on site.
On December 25, aespa attended the red carpet event for the '2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon,' held at Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo, Incheon. The members greeted fans one by one, delivering Christmas messages and engaging with the audience.
Winter was the first to step forward, smiling and waving as she greeted fans with a “Merry Christmas.” However, the response from the crowd appeared noticeably subdued. Shortly afterward, Ningning took the microphone and greeted fans in Chinese, which was met with loud cheers. Footage from the event also showed the members briefly exchanging glances with slightly stiff expressions, seemingly taken aback by the contrast in reactions.
Some fans and online commentators have interpreted the moment as potentially linked to recent controversies surrounding Winter. She has recently been at the center of dating rumors involving BTS’s Jungkook, which gained traction following alleged concert sighting accounts and later expanded to speculation involving tattoos, rings, nail designs, and in-ear monitor accessories. The rumors have continued to circulate online, drawing significant attention.
During the red carpet appearance, fans also noted that a tattoo previously mentioned in past discussions was not visible on Winter’s arm, leading to mixed reactions and further speculation. As of now, neither Winter nor Jungkook’s respective agencies have issued an official statement regarding the dating rumors.
Following the emergence of the speculation, reactions within the fandom have varied, with differing opinions expressed both online and offline, including truck protests. Against this backdrop, the reaction observed at the red carpet has been viewed by some as an extension of the ongoing debate. Others, however, have urged caution, pointing out that factors such as venue acoustics, crowd distribution, and camera angles may have affected how the situation was perceived.
In the absence of official clarification, interpretations of the incident continue to differ among fans and observers.
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