SHINee’s Minho And TVXQ’s Changmin Are Still Fighting “Dating Allegations” 12 Years Later

K-Pop idols of the opposite gender can oftentimes be afraid of interactions out of fear of getting caught up in dating scandals.

DAWN (left) and HyunA (right) were dropped from Cube Entertainment when it was revealed they were a couple.

Yet, even those of the same gender are not except!

TVXQ’s Changmin (left) and SHINee’s Minho (right).

In 2010, SHINee‘s Minho and TVXQ‘s Changmin (also known as Max) were famously subject to dating rumors.

A Japanese tabloid reporter snapped a photo of Minho and Changmin attending Yunho‘s Michael Jackson tribute as friends. Yet, due to Minho’s long hair at the time, he was mistaken for a “mysterious woman.”

There was a separate concert that Yunho was doing in memory of Michael Jackson. I went with SHINee’s Minho to see the event. But unfortunately, Minho’s hair at that time was very long. Mistaking the long-haired Minho to be a girl, a Japanese reporter snapped pictures and reported it as a relationship scandal.

— Changmin

Minho (left) and Changmin (right).

In 2012, in an episode of Beatles Code 2, MC Tak Jae Hoon and Super Junior‘s Shindong teased Changmin about the “scandal.” They joked that perhaps Changmin and Minho really were in a relationship.

Tak Jae Hoon: Are you sure you didn’t tell Minho, ‘you play the role of the girl [in this relationship] so grow your hair out?

Shindong: So if you had to choose one male idol you’ve been keeping a watch on lately, who is it?

Changmin: What are you saying? Why are you asking me things like that? I like girl idols a lot. I like After School and…

Changmin (top) and Shindong (bottom).

Despite the rumors and teasing, SM Entertainment labelmates Minho and Changmin remained good friends throughout all these years.

Last year, Minho guested on Problem Child In The House. He shared how Changmin even kept in touch with him while he was completing his military duties.

You can’t use your phone in boot camp. You can get internet letters instead. But for us, we could only get one a day. Just the first one. By order of arrival. So right at midnight was when my fans wrote to me. So, I went to check my mail and see who wrote to me. ‘Minho it’s Changmin.’ His internet letter managed to get through as the first one. He was really dedicated. He couldn’t get through to me the first few times so he waited until midnight to write me, and it worked. So when I saw that the internet letter from Changmin I was so touched. ‘I hope you’re not sick. Stay healthy. I told you it was going to be tough in there. How’s it going?’ I teared up. I got choked up.

— Minho

| @SMTOWNGLOBAL/Twitter

Their friendship even earned them a new variety show, Changminho’s Birdie Buddy. The two go on a golfing vacation, beginning with Saipan.

Fans have been anticipating seeing their onscreen chemistry with the return of this bromance on screen, and they didn’t disappoint.

Changminho’s Birdie Buddy premiered on August 29. In the recent episode, Minho picked up Changmin in his golf cart.

Still, Minho couldn’t help but stop and stare as Changmin walked. While Changmin rocked a casual look, he was so effortlessly stunning that Minho couldn’t quit admiring him.

Changmin: Did you wait long?

Minho: Nope, not at all.

Of course, Minho is especially handsome himself. So, for a couple of minutes, the two just admired one another before heading out to golf.

Minho: Aren’t you looking too sexy? Wow…

Changmin: What are you talking about?

After all these years, Minho and Changmin could still easily be mistaken as a couple. Though they really are just best friends!

Changmin: Wow, you’re really… How do you find time to work out when you’re so busy? You’re amazing.

Minho: I’m barely [finding the time]… You’re so handsome. You’re so sexy.

Changmin: What are you saying?

Netizens are saying that this interaction explains the real reason why they had a “dating scandal.” Some even joked about the fact that Minho appeared to be checking out a married man! Changmin married in 2020.

This is why they had a dating scandal my man is down bad pic.twitter.com/GAZeLPGqE6

— nana (@lihuanyang) August 30, 2022

why is minho looking at him like that i feel sick THATS A MARRIED MAN pic.twitter.com/pkdI6qWinb

— mon RING MA BELL DAY (@replaymilfs) August 30, 2022

minho: aren’t you being too sexy? woah… you’re so cool. so sexy…

the way he’s caressing everywhere i’m screaming CHANGMIN IS A MARRIED MAN MINHO pic.twitter.com/e3GPGvSRLO

— minho’s pr manager (@pawstaem) August 30, 2022

So, even 12 years later, these friends’ chemistry is still so undeniable!

Changminho’s Birdie Buddy will air at 6 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday on seezn. You can also check out more iconic Minho and Changmin moments below.