SM Entertainment has officially denied rumors of aespa’s Winter being in a relationship with ENHYPEN’s Jungwon, calling the claims baseless. The agency also disclosed a troubling attempt of blackmail related to the photos circulating online.

What Sparked the Dating Rumor?

On December 10, 2024, a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) alleged that Winter and Jungwon were spotted “on a date” at a bar in Chungdam. This claim was accompanied by photos, which quickly fueled speculations online.

SM Entertainment Responds

The agency promptly clarified the situation via a statement to Korean news outlet OSEN:

“There is no truth to [the rumors].”

SM Entertainment also addressed the origin of the photos, revealing that the individual who circulated them initially sought financial gain through a media outlet. When this attempt failed, the person uploaded the photos online with malicious intent.

“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.”

Warning of Legal Action

SM Entertainment announced plans to pursue legal measures against the person responsible for spreading the false information and photos, signaling their firm stance on protecting their artists from defamation and blackmail attempts.

Keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to let you know the latest developments about aespa Winter.