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On Monday, October 14, 2024, BTS' Kim Namjoon, aka RM, shared lyrics from his song Groin on his Instagram story. The track is from his latest solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, released on May 24, 2024. According to Google Translate, the Korean lyrics translate in English to:
"There are so many unlucky b*stards in the world. So what? Just keep going your own way. There are so many b*stards you can't understand in this world."
For the unversed, Groin is a rebellious track penned by BTS leader, Namjoon, that speaks on how he only represents himself and his six band members. The lyrics highlight how he and BTS aren't the spokespersons for any government, group, or propaganda, as they are here to make music.
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However, some fans of RIIZE speculated that the BTS leader's recent Instagram story was about Seunghan being removed from RIIZE. BTS fans were quick to defend Namjoon and stated that his song lyrics clearly state that he doesn't represent any other K-pop group. BTS ARMY criticized other K-pop fandoms for tagging Namjoon in the ongoing RIIZE controversy.
ARMYs stated that if Namjoon had to voice his views, then he would do it for his bandmates who have been victims of public scrutiny and fraud rather than a rookie idol from a different company and group. Jimin was scammed of 100 million KRW (approximately $73,657.81) by comedian Lee Jin-ho, while BTS' Suga was embroiled in a DUI incident in August 2024 where he fell from a foldable electric scooter/kickboard in front of his house.
An ARMY (@ZER06ON3) claimed that Namjoon's post was about Jimin and wrote,
"He knows, he knows."
Several BTS ARMY flooded X, lashing out at other K-pop fans for diluting Namjoon's Instagram post for RIIZE's Seunghan, who was removed from the group on October 14 by SM Entertainment. Fans questioned the logic behind other fandoms' assumption of a BTS idol voicing his support for a rookie idol from a rival entertainment company.
""omg he did this for seungha" DOES JOON KNOW THAT SEUNGHA EXISTS? like I ask yall to be SERIOUS here. What would make more sense...that it was bcz of that comedian and Jimin or BECAUSE HE WANTED TO AND IT'S HIS SONG????" a fan wrote.
"kpop stans thinking the world revolves around them....well no it actually revolves around jimin, move!!!!" another fan wrote.
"The namjoon validation going crazyyyyy. The same man y'all drag 24/7 on this app. PLEASE. Did he tell y'all why he posted this?" another fan remarked.
Others highlighted how these same fandoms criticize Namjoon and other BTS members for everything. ARMYs criticized them for seeking "validation" through Namjoon's Instagram story to add weight to their support for RIIZE's Seunghan. Some ARMYs also stated that Namjoon's post is for his group members, Jimin and Suga.
"K-pop stans have no solid reason to hate Joon btw, all the hate tweets against him with 20k, 50k, 100k, likes are just calling him ugly or something stupid like taking his lyrics out of context. Yet when there's a crisis y'all still seek his validation. Please free my man," one fan said.
"Namjoon knows about what they did to jimin," another fan added.
"So when we were trending BTS is 7 kpoppies said it’s not about Yoongi but a BTS members Instagram story is about that guy??? Yeah no," one other fan wrote.
BTS' RM gets roped into news of Jimin getting scammed by Lee Jin-ho, Suga's DUI incident, and RIIZE's Seunghan
On October 14, Star News reported that South Korean comedian and entertainer Lee Jin-ho, from the popular variety show Knowing Bros, solicited 100 million KRW (approximately $73,657.81) from BTS' Jimin. He took the money from Jimin in 2022 with a promissory note (IOU).
For the unversed, an IOU is an informal note that acknowledges taking a loan from someone. BTS' label, BIGHIT MUSIC, confirmed on October 14, that Lee Jin-ho never paid Jimin back. They said:
"It is true that financial damage occurred as reported, and all that was done was a loan using an IOU." (as per Google Translate).
Billboard reported that Seunghan has been removed from SM Entertainment's rookie boy band, RIIZE. He was on a 10-month hiatus after pictures of him smoking and holding hands with his alleged girlfriend were leaked online in November 2023. On October 12, RIIZE announced the return of Seunghan, however, on October 14, the decision was flipped by the company.
Additionally, Korean RIIZE fans allegedly sent death wreaths outside SM Entertainment and demanded Seunghan's removal from the group. Several fandom groups, such as BTS ARMY, Seventeen's CARAT, Stray Kids' STAY, etc., voiced their support for Seunghan and criticized SM Entertainment and Korean fans for their unfair decision.
Meanwhile, on August 7, 2024, BTS' Suga was charged by police for drunk driving. Reportedly, he was riding a foldable electric scooter/kickboard on August 6, 2024, and fell in front of his house. His blood alcohol level was over 0.08%. JTBC released fake blurry footage of another man riding a motorized scooter on August 7, which invited public backlash towards Suga.
On August 15, Dong-A Ilbo News released the original CCTV footage showing that Suga was riding an electric kickboard. Police confirmed that the vehicle had no engine and its maximum speed was 30 km/hr (equal to a bicycle). JTBC apologized on August 16 for releasing unverified footage; however, BTS ARMY highlighted that it already damaged Suga's reputation.
Later, on August 18, the Korean Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) investigated JTBC for wrongful broadcast of unverified news. On October 7, the organization decided to not fine JTBC and let them off with a warning.
In other news, BTS' Kim Namjoon and Jimin enlisted in the military in December 2023 to fulfill their mandatory service. They will return in June 2025 to resume group activities.
