Four years of leaked photos, strategic silence, and global speculation. The relationship between BTS member V and BLACKPINK’s Jennie remains one of K-pop’s biggest unanswered questions.
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Paris Changed Everything
On May 17, 2023, French photographer Amar Taoualit posted video footage that sent K-pop communities into chaos. Two people walked hand-in-hand through Paris streets at night. Taoualit later confirmed on Instagram that he filmed V and Jennie, stating he captured well-known personalities as part of his journalism work.
The video quality was grainy. The lighting was poor. None of that mattered. Within hours, the footage spread across Twitter, TikTok, and every K-pop forum. Fans demanded answers. Both HYBE and YG Entertainment gave the same response to Sports Seoul: “It is difficult to check regarding this matter.”
That non-answer became their default position. No confirmation. No denial. Just silence.
The Beginning: Instagram and Jeju Island
The speculation started quietly in 2021. V created his Instagram account and accidentally followed Jennie. He unfollowed within minutes, later explaining that Instagram’s suggested follow feature caused the mistake.
Fans treated it as coincidence until May 2022. Photos surfaced online allegedly showing V and Jennie together on Jeju Island. The images came from an anonymous account called @gurumiharibo. YG Entertainment responded with a vague statement: “We have nothing to say regarding this matter.”
That summer silence broke in August 2022.
The iCloud Hack
Someone gained access to what appeared to be Jennie’s iCloud storage. Between August and September 2022, multiple private photos leaked online. The images showed V and Jennie in various settings: mirror selfies, casual moments, locations matching V’s apartment. Each new leak sparked fresh debate about authenticity.
Security expert commentary suggested the photos showed no editing signs. Former entertainment journalist Lee Jin-ho interviewed a professional hacker who stated after investigation that the images appeared genuine and unmanipulated.
YG Entertainment finally addressed the situation, warning of legal action against those who leaked personal photos. They never confirmed the photos showed Jennie. HYBE stayed completely silent.
The leaker @gurumiharibo continued posting through September 2022. When HYBE released a general statement about taking legal action against malicious commenters, the account claimed they received no legal notice. The photos stopped appearing after that month, but the damage was done.
Who V and Jennie Actually Are
Kim Taehyung, stage name V, joined BTS in 2013 at age 18. The Daegu-born vocalist became known for his distinctive baritone voice and acting role in the 2016 drama “Hwarang.” He released his solo album “Layover” in September 2023 before military enlistment.
V enlisted for mandatory military service on December 11, 2023. He served in the Military Police Corps’ Special Task Force under the 2nd Corps. His discharge date was June 10, 2025. He’s now 29 years old with an estimated net worth of $40 million.
Jennie Kim debuted with BLACKPINK in August 2016. The Seoul-born rapper and vocalist spent part of her childhood in New Zealand before training at YG Entertainment for six years. Her 2018 solo single “Solo” made history as the first Korean female soloist music video to reach one billion YouTube views.
She founded her own label, ODD ATELIER, in 2023 while maintaining BLACKPINK group activities under YG Entertainment. Her debut solo album “Ruby” dropped in March 2025, selling one million copies worldwide. At 30, she’s become the most-followed Korean person on Instagram and global ambassador for Chanel.
June 2025: New Speculation After Military Service
V returned from military service in June 2025. His first Instagram post sparked immediate analysis. Fans noticed several details:
The discharge celebration cake read “I’m happy to be with you.” V chose the song “Love Me JeJe” for the post with the caption “Love me tete.” Supporters interpreted “JeJe” as referencing Jennie and “tete” as Taehyung’s nickname.
One day before V’s discharge, Jennie posted photos on Instagram. The second slide showed scattered letters on a table. The letter “T” was prominently visible. Fans connected it to V’s upcoming return.
In August 2025, another user on social media posted photos allegedly showing a woman matching Jennie’s appearance with V in Los Angeles. The claims couldn’t be verified.
November 2025 brought more speculation. V and Jennie were both in Los Angeles at overlapping times. V arrived days before his scheduled appearance. Social media accounts tracked their movements, claiming they returned to South Korea on the same day.
Koreaboo reported in December 2025 that netizens presented “evidence” including matching clothing, accessories, and schedules. Other users quickly disputed this proof, noting Paris Fashion Week brought hundreds of celebrities to the same locations.
Why Agencies Stay Silent
Privacy law professionals explained the strategy behind agency silence. One lawyer posted on Twitter in September 2022 that making a statement would require breaching artist privacy. Companies can’t simply deny rumors without providing details that might worsen situations.
This approach differs from how HYBE handled other rumors. When marriage rumors about RM surfaced, HYBE issued quick denials. When dating speculation linked Suga and Suran, the company shut it down immediately. The same happened with rumors about Jungkook and actress Lee Yu Bi.
The leaker @gurumiharibo pointed this out in September 2022, posting screenshots of HYBE’s past denials. The company’s silence regarding V and Jennie stood out as different.
October 2025: The Staged Photos Claim
On October 11, 2025, a social media user named @suhojiang claimed the leaked photos and Paris video were fabricated. The post alleged that Jennie’s team and YG Entertainment staged everything for business purposes before she left YG as a solo artist.
The individual claimed they worked with the original leaker @gurumiharibo to create the images. The post went viral but faced immediate skepticism. Fans of both artists rejected the claims, calling them an attempt to damage reputations.
No evidence supported the staging allegations. Both fan communities treated V and Jennie as victims of privacy violations regardless of relationship status.
Where Things Stand Now
V completed military service eight months ago and returned to BTS activities. Jennie wrapped solo promotions for “Ruby” and continues touring with BLACKPINK. Neither has publicly addressed the speculation in any interview or social media post.
The photographer Amar Taoualit suggested in July 2025 he would photograph the pair again if given opportunity. Fans responded with accusations of stalking behavior. Some created a “V stalking report” document asking HYBE to take action against privacy violations.
Dating in K-pop carries professional consequences. Public relationships can affect fan engagement, commercial partnerships, and group dynamics. Many agencies prefer silence over confirmation, calculating that ambiguity causes less damage than truth.
The evidence exists: leaked photos, Paris footage, overlapping schedules, social media hints. What’s missing is the only thing that matters in K-pop: official confirmation.
Four years later, V and Jennie have given the public nothing. No statements. No clarifications. No answers. Their silence speaks louder than any leaked photo ever could.
