Rumors were spread around online in November last year that BTS‘s Jungkook had been seen in a famous meat restaurant in Jeju.
While that news alone didn’t gain much attention due to its non-scandalous nature, a picture that was recently revealed that was allegedly taken during his visit has gone fairly viral, reports Koreaboo.
That’s because in the photo, Jungkook appears to be sitting next to a woman while dining in the restaurant. And of course, as with any photo taken by a random netizen of a male idol seen with a woman, dating rumors began to spring up.
With so many theories going around speculating that Jungkook had been on a date with his apparent girlfriend, the owner of the restaurant, Song Mingyu, was contacted about the matter to try and clear things up.
Fortunately for everyone involved, the restaurant owner was quick to respond to the netizen’s questions about the woman that Jungkook was seen there with. According to him, the woman was an older staff member (even referred to as an ajumma), and that Jungkook was there with her and three other men, also presumably part of BTS’s staff.
This is far from the first time that a single photo — or even less evidence — has led to a dating rumor for Jungkook or other BTS members, and given just how popular they are, it’s unlikely to be the last.
Netizens have reacted to the rumors and subsequent clarifications with distaste for those who spread the photo and began rumors in the first place.
With how absent Jungkook has chosen to be from the public in general and online, many fans hope that he can continue to live his life as peacefully as possible without such exaggerated rumors getting to him.