The dating rumor linking BTS’ Jung Kook and aespa’s Winter has exploded into one of the most polarizing debates in K-pop this month — not because of a statement from either artist, but because of a single alleged “couple tattoo” that snowballed across social media. What began as fan speculation has now escalated into truck protests, legal action and a widening split among fandoms over how idols should navigate privacy, image and dating in the spotlight. SM Entertainment said on Wednesday that it will pursue legal action to protect Winter from a surge of malicious online posts. “We are acutely aware of the severity of ongoing defamatory content targeting the artist, including sexual harassment, defamation, personal attacks, insults, privacy violations and deepfake material,” the company said. The agency added that it has identified a growing volume of posts on online communities and social media that damage Winter’s character or reputation. SM said it will expand its criminal complaints in phases after reviewing the content, and noted that it is already pursuing both cri