Aespa Winter and RIIZE Sungchan: Dating Rumors Reignite with Viral Evidence

Dating rumors can be as slippery as a bar of soap in a shower, and it appears that the recent whispers about Aespa's Winter and RIIZE's Sungchan have made quite the splash among netizens. These speculations first sauntered into the limelight in July 2024, but were largely dismissed—much like those gym memberships we sign up for after New Year’s that inevitably gather dust.

Sure, both idols are under the same shiny umbrella of SM Entertainment, which certainly raises the odds that they might have exchanged polite nods or possibly even shared a fleeting glance over a bowl of kimchi during a company retreat. But alas, a postcard from the moon would have more concrete evidence backing this blossoming tale of young love.

Yet, like a persistent itch that just won't go away, a viral post has recently reignited these dating rumors, bolstered by sheer audacity rather than substantial proof. Our intrepid OP (original poster, for those uninitiated in the lingo) claims that Winter and Sungchan both are sporting “similar sparkly in-ear monitors,” a fact that should have no bearing on romantic compatibility unless we’re living in a world where earbuds are the new Cupid’s arrows. One is red, the other is blue—next, we’ll be suggesting that they should start a band called “Color Coordination.”

Then there’s the curious case of the apples. On August 9, Winter mused about her morning routine—“An apple in the morning is like gold”—followed by her existential crisis about the time of day. Clearly, her relationship with apples runs deeper than most of us would care to admit. The day after this riveting exchange, Sungchan and a companion launched into a Weverse live titled “Is it okay to eat an apple at night or not?”—the modern-day equivalent of philosophical debate, I suppose.

Add to the mix Winter’s Instagram profile pic, featuring Bambi—a character that Sungchan, bless his heart, often gets compared to. The internet sleuths have also pointed out that both stars have Switzerland on their travel bucket lists, which feels less like a romantic plot point and more like an ambush of scenic views. They even share a penchant for a typing style that includes the trendy “ㅏㅏ” (ahh), which is less reminiscent of a heartfelt confession and more like a collective sigh after a long day.

And then there’s the “hamburger and fries” debacle. Sungchan’s well-published love for hamburgers has become intertwined with Winter's AirPods charmingly dubbed “French Fries.” Imagine the melodrama: Winter leaves her AirPods on a plane and spirals into a culinary daydream about fries, caught in an existential pickle over how lifeless she’d feel without them. The burger-loving angst is real, folks.

With all this tantalizing evidence, you’d think the netizens would be lining up for the royal wedding invites. Instead, many have rolled their eyes and waved their virtual hands dismissively at these connections, pointing out rather astutely that it’s all just a coincidence. After all, in a world filled with superficial similarities, we might be living in a sitcom where every misplaced item is evidence of a budding romance.

So, as chaos erupts for those trying to run on stage during a concert, the world holds its breath waiting for the next round of “he said, she said” scenarios. Perhaps the truth is simply that Winter and Sungchan are just two talented individuals navigating the whimsical world of stardom, and maybe—just maybe—they enjoy apples.