"It's high time we should behave now!"— Fans react as BTS' Jungkook’s simple Chuseok message on Weverse excludes ARMYs, sparking speculations

On September 16, 2024, BTS' Jungkook shared a simple message on Weverse to wish everyone a Happy Chuseok. Known for its significance in Korean culture, Chuseok is a major harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Jungkook, currently serving in the military since December 2023, posted:

"I hope you have a good Chuseok" (accompanied by a salute emoji)

While fans were initially excited to see an update from the idol, many quickly noticed something unusual about his message. Unlike his usual posts, which often include mentions of ARMY, the message was brief and impersonal. This sparked discussions among his fanbase, with some speculating that the reserved tone of his post could be related to recent controversies surrounding his support for NewJeans.

Amidst the ongoing feud within the label and fans' reactions to the artist's post, many believe Jungkook’s subdued Chuseok message may have been a subtle reflection of his disappointment over the controversy. Fans voiced their concerns about how others had overstepped boundaries, suggesting that it was time for ARMYs to respect the idol's decisions. An X user @weare_bts7 wrote:

"It's high time we should behave now!!!! Let's get out JK's *cutely written* texts back."

"Yeah I think Jungkook have seen armys attitude toward him on his IG comments and on here, and i think he will never see this fandom the same ever again. I am so sad and so mad," a fan wrote.

"My man winning the idgaf war so hard, luv him," another user commented.

"He is still so kind but as a person who knows a little Korean I felt the distance in his tone. Jungkook is klln them with kindness which they don’t deserve," an X user wrote.

Some fans observed that when his Korean messages are translated on platforms like X, they are often described as "said cutely." However, his recent message lacked his usual playful or endearing tone.

"Jungkook said hope you spend chuseok well but *not cutely* my world is ending," a user wrote.

"the (written cutely) missing from the weverse post is a little haunting. sk gov u will not be forgiven if you seriousify my cutie," another person wrote.

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BTS' Jungkook's support post for NewJeans reportedly caused a stir among netizens

Previously, Jungkook had shared a post on his dog’s Instagram account (@bowwow_bam). Many fans interpreted this as showing support for the girl group NewJeans amidst the ongoing tension between HYBE and former ADOR CEO, Min Hee-jin.

This led to backlash from certain fans who opposed Min Hee-jin’s actions and by extension, NewJeans. Some fans took their frustrations directly to Jungkook’s account, prompting messages criticizing his choice to support the group.

As the situation unfolded, BIGHIT Music clarified that the member's post was genuine and aimed at emphasizing that young artists should not be caught up in disputes. They later stated:

"We have confirmed that he posted it because he thought that under no circumstances should a young artist be dragged into a dispute and used as a shield."

The contrast between his usual warm messaging and this straightforward post caught the attention of ARMYs. This shift in style fueled further speculation among fans. Many fans are left wondering if the toned-down message reflected his feelings amid the ongoing tensions involving his support for NewJeans and the backlash he faced from certain parts of the fanbase.

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The artist is currently serving his mandatory military service since December 2023 and is expected to return to the spotlight in June 2025.