ENTERTAINMENT
SM Entertainment and Belift Lab Deny Dating Rumors Between aespa's Winter and ENHYPEN's Jungwon, Threaten Legal Action
On the 11th, SM Entertainment addressed the rumors to TenAsia, stating, "These claims are groundless." They further explained, "The person who distributed the photos attempted to contact a media outlet for monetary gain. When the outlet refused to facilitate such a transaction, the individual maliciously spread the rumors." SM Entertainment announced their intention to pursue legal action.
The agency's strong response to the rumors has drawn attention, especially given past incidents, such as the dating confirmation between aespa's Karina and actor Lee Jae-wook, which caused division among fans. This history may explain SM Entertainment's heightened sensitivity to such rumors.
Belift Lab, the agency for ENHYPEN, also denied the rumors, stating, "The dating rumors are not true." They warned of "strong measures against actions that invade the privacy of our artists and spread malicious rumors."
The rumors surfaced online with photos and videos allegedly showing Winter and Jungwon on a date. The post's author commented, "With the year-end approaching, they will likely have many schedules together," and questioned Winter's choice of clothing, suggesting she wore the same outfit as in a recent challenge. The author also claimed, "Winter took a taxi first, followed by Yang Jung-won."
The post has since been deleted.
