Mingyu (민규), a member of popular K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN (세븐틴), has recently become embroiled in dating rumors. While he recently began his mandatory military service, some netizens claim he was seen traveling in Spain in early October. Subsequently, alleged “date evidence” began circulating, suggesting he traveled with an influencer girlfriend and was even photographed at the same golf course. These claims quickly gained traction online. However, the rumors have sparked a strong backlash from fans, many of whom question the authenticity of the photos, alleging they were deliberately edited, and urging the public not to spread unverified information.
Mingyu only recently commenced his military service, yet an alleged trip to Spain has ignited controversy. Initial photos showed him traveling with friends, but as more online rumors emerged, some claimed to have evidence of him traveling with his rumored girlfriend.
Among the circulating posts, a photo of Mingyu at a golf course was compared by netizens to a photo posted by an influencer, with claims that the two were at the same location. Furthermore, some pointed out that Mingyu allegedly liked the influencer's social media posts, leading to speculation that he might have intended to reveal their relationship.
After these reports spread, various opinions emerged online. Some netizens stated that if Mingyu is indeed dating, they hope his private life will be respected, commenting: “These are things sasaeng fans do. Why do you have to find out who Mingyu is dating? Can’t you just let him date in peace?” Others believed that it is normal for idols to date and that fans should focus on their music rather than having excessive possessiveness over idols.
However, some fans were highly displeased with the rumors, arguing that the claims lacked credible evidence and could harm Mingyu and the individuals involved. One netizen noted that the rumored girlfriend, who had been actively pursuing her influencer career, allegedly set her social media accounts to private due to the controversy, even repeatedly deactivating and reactivating them, further drawing attention to the incident.
Another faction of fans firmly maintained that the entire incident was a deliberate fabrication, questioning whether someone maliciously edited and altered images to tarnish Mingyu's reputation with false information. Some fans even urged others to block and report accounts that continued to post related content, with some hoping that his agency, HYBE, would address the issue.
Additionally, some fans raised doubts about the alleged “like evidence,” stating that zooming in on the circulating screenshots revealed that the images appeared to have been heavily edited. They even suspected that someone deliberately placed a like record under specific posts to create the false impression that Mingyu had personally liked them.
Currently, the photos and claims circulating online remain unverified. There is no definitive answer as to whether Mingyu is truly dating the rumored individual or if they traveled to Spain together. This dating speculation has led to differing stances among fans, with some supporting idols' freedom to date, while others believe the veracity of the information should be clarified first to prevent the spread of unconfirmed rumors.
