BTS's Jungkook Faces Fan Backlash After Avoiding Dating Rumors in Live Broadcast

《Kim Ji-won's Shooting Star》
Kim Ji-won, a reporter from Ten Asia's music team, brings you a refreshing taste of the music industry like a 'shooting star'.

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BTS member Jungkook recently reconnected with fans through a live broadcast, marking his first interaction since dating rumors with aespa's Winter surfaced. Despite fan expectations for him to address the rumors, Jungkook remained silent on the matter.

On the afternoon of the 15th, Jungkook hosted a live session on the fan communication platform Weverse. This was his first interaction since the dating rumors with Winter emerged on the 5th, following a 10-day silence. Despite the buzz surrounding the rumors, Jungkook acted as if nothing had happened. He titled the live broadcast 'I Want to Comeback,' expressing his excitement for a comeback planned for next spring. Throughout the session, he sang several songs and shared stories about the upcoming comeback, as well as his new hobbies, filling the broadcast with diverse content.

The comment section naturally brought up the dating rumors. Fans flooded the comments with Winter's name and expressed disappointment, saying, "Aren't you seeing our reactions? This is disappointing." The comments continued throughout the nearly 1-hour and 40-minute broadcast. Although Jungkook interacted with fans by checking the comments, he did not respond to those related to the dating rumors, leading to criticism that the communication was lacking substance.

The dating rumors began to spread on the 5th, with fans presenting various pieces of evidence supporting the alleged relationship. The most notable evidence was tattoos; both Jungkook and Winter have tattoos of three dog faces on their arms, leading to speculation about matching couple tattoos. Neither HYBE nor SM Entertainment, the agencies representing Jungkook and Winter, have commented on the rumors, leaving fans increasingly frustrated.

Dating rumors involving idols are not uncommon, but the issue lies in the response that follows. Jungkook's complete avoidance of the topic during a live broadcast, which is meant for fan interaction, has fueled dissatisfaction with his communication approach. Live broadcasts are a direct channel for real-time interaction with fans, and ignoring a comment section filled with a specific issue can be perceived as intentional avoidance.

Fans are not simply upset about the emergence of dating rumors. The core issue is the perceived disregard and lack of communication, exemplified by the couple tattoos. Despite fans expressing their opinions directly, the continued silence has left them feeling deceived. As a result, many long-time supporters have declared their intention to stop supporting Jungkook. Social media has seen a surge in posts stating, "It's hard to support Jungkook any longer."

While the attempt to reconnect with fans is positive, this live broadcast has highlighted a rift between the artist and his fans rather than building anticipation for a comeback. If Jungkook genuinely wants to 'come back,' as his broadcast title suggests, he must first rebuild trust before presenting new music. The longer the silence continues, the more it is filled with disappointment rather than anticipation.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr