Did aespa’s Winter Remove the Tattoo Linked to BTS’ Jungkook? Airport Photos Spark Debate [WATCH]

aespa member Winter has once again become the center of online discussion after recent airport photos left fans questioning the fate of her much-talked-about “three puppies” tattoo.

The K-pop star was photographed departing from Seoul for London, where she is set to attend Wimbledon for the first time. While her travel outfit drew attention, it wasn’t her fashion that had fans talking.

Winter was seen at Incheon Airport wearing a sleeveless black knit top paired with gray slacks, leaving her upper arms fully visible. Soon after the photos surfaced online, some fans noticed that her small arm tattoo appeared to be missing.

Tattoo Previously Linked to Dating Rumors

The “three puppies” tattoo has been the subject of speculation for months, largely because of long-running dating rumors involving Winter and BTS member Jungkook.

The rumors gained traction after online users pointed to alleged “couple items,” overlapping schedules, and other perceived similarities between the two idols. However, neither SM Entertainment nor BigHit Music has confirmed the dating speculation, and there is no verified evidence that Winter and Jungkook have been in a relationship.

More recently, some fans claimed that Winter’s tattoo resembled one allegedly associated with Jungkook, fueling speculation that it could be a “couple tattoo.”

Viral Post Questions Whether Tattoo Was Removed

The latest discussion began after a post on the Korean online community Instiz went viral.

The user questioned whether Winter had removed the tattoo after failing to spot it in the airport photos. “Is Winter’s tattoo removed? I saw photos of her leaving through the airport, and since she was wearing a sleeveless top, I took a quick look. It seemed like I couldn’t see the tattoo. Did she get it removed?”

Fans Offer Alternative Explanation

While the post quickly gained attention, many Korean netizens were unconvinced that the tattoo had actually been removed.

Instead, several users suggested it was likely concealed with makeup, while others pointed out that the tattoo had been clearly visible during other recent public appearances.

One user wrote, “Ever since the dating rumors came out, she’s always covered it with makeup or a bandage. Not long ago, at the university festival, she was wearing a loose long-sleeved shirt, but when the sleeve rode up, the tattoo was clearly still there. I don’t think she’d remove it in the first place,” while another commented, “It’s covered with makeup”.

“I’m genuinely curious. I’m not even a fan, but why is it always female idols who get these ‘Did she remove her tattoo?’ speculation posts that end up turning into criticism?” shared a third netizen. A fourth one said, “It’d be kind of lame if she got it removed.”

As of now, Winter has not commented on the speculation, and there is no confirmation that the tattoo has been removed.

For now, the discussion remains based solely on fan observations, with the airport photos continuing to fuel debate across online communities.