Dating rumors between idols have always been one of the topics that draw the most public attention. However, there is a long-standing pattern in which fans dislike seeing their idols date anyone of the opposite ѕєχ — especially among кσяєαn fans. They tend to react much more harshly to such rumors compared to international fanbases.
The intense reactions from кσяєαn fans stem from the fact that кσяєα’s idol culture places heavy emphasis on “exclusivity” and the idea that idols “belong to the fans.” Because the domestic market is where idols focus most of their promotions, кσяєαn fans have developed a sense of authority and control over them.
In addition, кσяєαn netizens have long been αѕѕociated with a very negative and intimidating phenomenon often referred to as a “witch-hunt culture” — a crowd mentality in which people collectively criticize, attack, condemn, or punish an individual based solely on rumors, speculation, unverified evidence, herd psychology, and emotionally driven outrage rather than rational judgment.
Even a fandom widely known for its loyalty and deep affection toward BTS, such as ARMY, has not been exempt from this phenomenon. In recent days, some wavering fans have shared posts filled with negative language, expressing disappointment or even announcing that they are leaving the fandom after dating rumors involving Jungkook and aespa’s Winter spread widely on social media. Most of these reactions came from кσяєαn fans.
ARMYs discovered that many кσяєαn-language posts shared on Twitter by K-ARMYs complained about how much Jungkook has “changed” over the years — from getting tattoos, piercings, and riding a motorcycle, to, above all, allegedly dating. Some even blamed Jungkook for supposedly damaging BTS’s reputation just ahead of their return.
Some comments observed included:
- To be honest, I fcking hated that you smoked. I fcking hated that you got tattoos. Riding a bike made you look like a dmn delinquent, too. Every fcking time I started to lose affection, I forced myself to endure it by thinking of your past (2015–2018^^). But now I can literally hear soмєтнing in my brain finally snapping.
- It seems like you should be putting all your effort into preparing for the comeback, but if this comeback fails, it really feels like you won’t have any кσяєαn fans left.
- Fck, if it had been my boys, I swear I would’ve gone mentally insane. Cheers
In addition, some even more hostile posts brought up past incidents to pile blame onto Jungkook, encouraging others to submit requests to HYBE demanding he be removed from the group lineup or forcing an OT6 scenario. This is not to mention the even harsher reactions on major кσяєαn online communities such as Pann or Naver, where the level of toxicity is even stronger.
In response to some кσяєαn fans’ reactions, I-ARMYs expressed deep disappointment, saying they never expected a fandom as progressive as ARMY to still have so many people engaging in “witch-hunt behavior” over baseless dating rumors. What they found most disheartening was that while Jungkook has always gone out of his way to show respect and love to fans, these individuals have now turned against him, attacking him harshly over a few coincidental and unverifiable pieces of “evidence.”
I-ARMYs also pointed out the tragic history of кσяєαn fan communities reacting excessively to dating news, which in the past has led to нєαятвяєαкιиg outcomes for several idols — in some cases even pushing them toward life-ending decisions. Because of this, they urged some K-ARMYs to regain their senses before things escalate too far. Meanwhile, Jungkook and his agency have not released any official statement, meaning that any information circulating at the moment is not the confirmed truth.
Although it is understood that every fandom has both good and bad individuals, the rapid rise of negative responses within the K-ARMY community has made I-ARMYs disappointed and concerned. It is worth noting that some K-ARMYs themselves were frustrated by the toxic reactions from certain кσяєαn fans. They responded with sharp кσяєαn comments, translated as follows:
- Honestly, you can just shove that opinion right up your ss.
- You’re truly disgusting. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? You look like a useless fcking btch who can’t even do her job properly. Go eat some dog sht
- Who do you think you are? If you hate it so much, then don’t look. Everything real fans say is cool and supportive. Since when is a dmn akgae considered a fan?
- You are the result of an expired cndm. Don’t waste your existence by becoming a rage-fueling monster.
Meanwhile, the personal viewpoints expressed by I-ARMYs in this situation include:
- кσяєαn fans are seriously the WORST breeds known to man bc why the f**k are yall MAD at the concept of your “idol” getting tattoos, riding motorcycles and most of all DATING somebody else that was never going to be yall???
- its 2025 and this is probably either a grown **ss woman or man still believing that they can date Jeon Jungkook lmao korean kpop fans are FOREVER insane like theres no saving these delusional fяєαкs and its sad that its the celebrities who have to suffer bc of these fяєαкs
- K-armys need to be dealt with. The worst people on earth who for some reason feel like they own bts and that bts owes them everything and every details of their private lives and if they’re don’t they’ll “unstan” them. The only thing they do is complain and demand things and don’t even stream. I genuinely hope BTS don’t do more than 2 concerts in that country in 2026 because they don’t deserve it.
- kfans typical behaviour u're such a joke, u think u own idols, for u they are just dolls that should always follow u, the second they show some personnality, you feel betrayed. F*CK OFF
- She’s disgusted by Jungkook for smoking, getting tattoos, and riding motorcycles — even though she’s кσяєαn and all her people do the same
- all this over his private life which you shouldn't be meddling in at the first place
- кσяєαn kpop fans gotta be the worst species ever like who do yall think you are?!
