Recent close interactions between a member of a HYBE boy group and an underage girl have sparked widespread discussion online. Following the release of related photos, many netizens expressed concern, with some even stating that the situation felt "not quite right."
A netizen posted on social media, sharing multiple photos allegedly involving Ruka (루카) from the group aoen, questioning whether their interactions went beyond a typical teacher-student relationship. Ruka, currently 23 years old, is reportedly 10 years older than the girl, who is said to be 13.
aoen is an artist under JCONIC, a Japanese subsidiary of HYBE. The group officially formed on April 23, 2025, and debuted on June 11 of the same year with their first single, "The Blue Sun." The group consists of seven Japanese members, with Yuju (유주) serving as leader and Ruka as co-leader.
As the incident gained traction, more photos allegedly showing the two in the same locations, and even in what appeared to be the same home environment, began circulating online. These posts quickly fueled discussions across social media platforms.
According to content previously posted by the girl on her social media account, she mentioned that Ruka had been her dance teacher before his debut, which is how they met. However, as photos of their interactions were widely shared, many netizens expressed unease about such close interactions between a 23-year-old adult male and a 13-year-old minor. Some netizens directly questioned, "Do you even realize you're an idol now?"
While some netizens speculated about a potential "romantic relationship" between the two, there is currently no evidence to confirm they are dating. More attention, however, has been focused on whether such frequent and intimate interactions between an adult male and a 13-year-old girl are appropriate, even if they previously had a teacher-student relationship.
One netizen commented that even if Ruka was indeed the girl's former dance teacher, it remains difficult to understand why photos related to an underage girl would be publicly displayed on social media, or why official content would include images that could suggest they were present together.
The netizen also pointed out that based on the girl's past posts, she might have a different perception of their relationship than outsiders, which has further heightened scrutiny of their interactions.
Another netizen directly stated that the entire situation was "really strange," arguing that even if they were not dating and Ruka was merely the girl's former dance teacher, it was still hard to comprehend why a 23-year-old adult would spend so much time with a 13-year-old girl. "Why would a 23-year-old be with a 13-year-old so often? What common ground could two people with such a large age gap have that would lead to frequent meetings?"
Discussions continue to escalate online, with the public closely watching the actual relationship between Ruka and the girl. However, the circulating content primarily consists of publicly shared photos and personal accounts from netizens. The full context of their interactions and whether any other relationships exist remain to be confirmed.
