Dating is a taboo in the K-pop idol community. It is believed that when an idol gets into a relationship, it ruins the ‘fantasy’ for the fans. Back in the mid-years of K-pop, this was strictly practised where idols who actually got exposed for dating would then get ostracised or lose popularity in a blink.
However, recently, this issue has repeatedly sparked debate within the K-pop fan community where fans found such practice to be ridiculous because they believe it’s their idol’s choice. Plus, who doesn’t want to see their idols happy? Yet, there’s a good amount of immature K-pop fans that still believe in the whole fantasy, thus maintaining that their idols should remain single. We take a look at some of the A-list idols that might face backlash if their romantic lives get exposed:
1. BTS Maknae Line
BTS (방탄소년단) is technically known to have scandals almost every other week and their immense popularity. However, the Maknae Line, refers to the young ones of the group and in BTS’s case, it is Jungkook (전정국), Jimin (박지민) & V (뷔) or real name, Kim Taehyung (김태형).
The three are known for their solo fan bases that would often spark petty online fights over smallest things, as well as the most popular ones among the rest of the band members. And, well, sadly the world we live in, the more popularity one has, the more hate he or she will get, their romantic partner might need to deal with such issue.
2. Tzuyu (周子瑜) of TWICE
Based on observation and Kpop knowledge from the years of stanning, the ONCEs are possessive over their bias. Majority of TWICE members have an equal balance between male fans and female fans. Yet, Tzuyu (周子瑜) is the youngest member and more popular with male fans. She never had any dating rumours and perhaps for that very reason, her getting tangled into a scandal will surely cause an uproar within her fanbase community.
3. Jang Wonyoung (장원영) of IVE
IVE’s Wonyoung is always known as the It girl on the internet, especially being the brand ambassador for MiuMiu really made her the centre of attention on social media. One thing about Jang Wonyoung is that she has more power, with fans regardless of man or woman always “simping” over her, simultaneously, people find reasons to hate her even if she didn’t do anything.
With her beauty and flair, a dating scandal will possibly cause a huge stir for people to nitpick, possibly receiving a mixed reaction between positive and negative ones. She might or might not face some sort of petty consequences like being replaced for a brand deal or less appearance on TV reality shows considering her popularity.
4. Cha Eun-Woo (차은우) of ASTRO
If Jang Wonyoung is the “It Girl” then Cha Eun-Woo (차은우) would be the “It Boy” in this case. The man has people flocking from anywhere whenever he holds a fan meeting. He can even make people fall for him upon seeing at first sight.
The conversation of him being involved in dating scandals is an ongoing topic considering he had dating scandals back then with actress India Eisley. Despite the idol shutting the rumour down instantly, fans still went rogue when the news leaked. Thus, we can predict that in the near future, his dating scandal will set the internet ablaze!
5. Winter of AESPA
AESPA’s Winter is constantly having fans falling for her angelic and “handsome” features. Some netizens speculated that due to her attractive charm, a dating scandal might just cause the girl to suffer because there is a pattern of how the community reacts towards dating scandals of different idols. Most of it is rated by their attractiveness “level”.
6. Hwang Hyunjin (황현진) of STRAY KIDS
Hyunjin’s soft but “bad boy’ face has fans melting at the sight of him. Not to mention, his hair gives this “gentleness” to his character, swooning those who lay eyes on him almost instantly.
He was once mentioned in a dating scandal with AESPA’s Karina, which sent netizens into a frenzy upon hearing. Yet, the rumour died down soon after as there wasn’t much evidence. Imagine the meltdown that would happen if he ever got into a romantic relationship.
7. Ricky of ZEROBASEONE (ZB1)
The idol went viral a couple of months back for looking exactly like a vampire, specifically with his blond hair and pale skin. He is quite new to the industry as he just debuted last year. Based on his rising fame, he will probably face hardships if he were to deal with a dating scandal. Once again, his physical features might contribute to such a matter possibly occurring.
8. Yeh Shu-Hua (葉舒華) of (G)I-dle
The 24-year-old is widely known for her stunning visuals and amazing vocals. (G)-Idle as a group has always received criticism from Korean netizens. Shuhua is most likely to suffer severely as it is a repeating pattern that netizens would nitpick at whatever she or her group mates do. To add to that, CUBE Entertainment barely takes any actions as seen with previous scandals as they usually wait for the hate to die down on its own.
9. Jaemin (나재민) of NCT
It is a discussion within the K-pop community about how Jaemin from NCT has this personal borderline delusional relationship with his fans. These interactions may or may not have created an extra close bond between him and his fans, allowing space for his fans to have this sense of possessiveness over him.
These interactions have been going on since his debut. This will affect him in a way as hardcore fans tend to portray a sense of ownership towards their favourite idol. It’s toxic (to say the least), but unfortunately, it’s a persisting habit in this community.
10. Irene of Red Velvet
The Red Velvet member is often perceived negatively by Korean netizens despite her alluring charm and out-of-this-world beauty. Fashion editor Kang Kook-hwa once accused Irene of lashing out at her back in October 2020. Irene has since apologised for her poor words and actions in an official statement.
11. Yuna of ITZY
ITZY’s Yuna is another stunner of the new generation that often receives criticism over minuscule matters. Back in 2022, the maknae made headlines for being too thin. Fans voiced their concerns after Yuna’s ribcage was on full display during a live performance. Female idols can never win when it comes to their bodies – and love lives.
It would be comical yet relieving if any of these idols came out unscathed. However, the idea isn’t far from impossible as many fans these days have become more accepting and understanding when it comes to idols and who they love.
Source: Koreaboo
Ariani Soraya contributed to this article.
