Recently, a netizen hared their opinion on K-pop idol dating rumors, which received significant attention. The post discussed fans’ intense obsession with minute details in photos, interactions, and even Instagram likes, which quickly turn into “evidence” of alleged relationships. While global K-pop sites continue publishing analyses and speculations about idols’ love lives, Korean media has remained notably silent in recent times.
This contrast between foreign articles and the silence of Korean media led the original poster to accuse entertainment companies of bribing Korean journalists to prevent sharing any news that could harm the idols’ popularity. They wrote: “Koreaboo articles show just how thirsty K-pop fans are for dating rumors. But idols and their agencies are extremely cautious these days, skillfully avoiding Korean media — and they may even pay them to keep dating news under wraps. As a result, we literally have no confirmed stories about idol relationships.”
Recently, many dating rumors among idols have circulated. Blackpink’s Jennie was linked to rumors with BTS’s Taehyung and EXO’s Kai, while several sites shared alleged evidence of a romantic relationship between Jungkook and Winter of aespa, who had previously been involved with Enhypen’s Jungwon. The original post also sarcastically addressed rumors claiming that RIIZE’s Wonbin was simultaneously dating Winter, Giselle, Ning Ning of aespa, and Chaewon of Le Sserafim, commenting: “It’s completely ridiculous. There’s no way all these queens share one man, haha. Koreaboo articles really show how thirsty K-pop fans are for dating rumors.”
The original post emphasized that dating rumors among idols can make the atmosphere more exciting and even boost their popularity: “Even without any real basis, fans here create their own rumors. I can’t fully blame them — things get boring without some excitement. Idols are celebrities, and a small scandal keeps people talking about them and connected to them. Sometimes, dating news amplifies an idol’s comeback, variety show, or new concerts, increasing fan engagement with their content.”
However, dating rumors can also negatively impact idols’ careers. The post noted: “Fans who dislike dating news often pair their favorite idol with another, or live in a fantasy where they are their idol’s soulmate. Many K-pop fans get frustrated when dating news casts a shadow over the idol’s work. Once a rumor spreads, comment sections turn into speculation zones about their love lives, and suddenly their music, performances, or projects decline in attention. These are the fans who lose their minds when dating rumors emerge.”
