K-pop¡¯s biggest-ever comeback tour, the return of the super boyband BTS, has been hijacked by a dating scandal. How the $9 billion industry handles the excesses of superfan culture will have an impact on the way the genre extends its footprint globally.
The controversy that has fired up a small but vocal fandom centers on whether two of the industry¡¯s biggest stars, Jungkook of BTS and Winter of aespa, are in a relationship. Just to be clear: Nobody is accused of any actual wrongdoing. But to some fervent devotees, dating is a crime. Idols are meant to stay single, at least publicly, to preserve the image of accessibility and provide blank slates for followers to project their fantasies ¡ª no matter how outlandish.
The unconfirmed rumors about Jungkook and Winter, dubbed Winkook, emerged months ago based on allegations the duo had matching bracelets and tattoos. The firestorm reached a crescendo in December when some fans reportedly sent a protest truck outside the Seoul offices of BTS¡¯s agency Big Hit Music, a subsidiary of Hybe, calling for Jungkook to leave the group. Aespa¡¯s management, SM Entertainment, was subjected to a similar demonstration.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.