"Let them do whatever they want": Netizens criticize Seoul U.S. Embassy's allegedly back-handed post congratulating BTS Jin on his military discharge

BTS Jin was discharged from his mandatory military service in the South Korean military on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. BTS' official X account made a post about the band's oldest member's discharge with a photo of Jin and the other members.

The US Embassy in Seoul also reposted the X post, congratulating the Astronaut singer on his military discharge. The Embassy went on to say that they were looking forward to the BTS members making a positive impact in Korea and across the world.

"Congratulations on completing your military service, #Jin. We look forward to seeing @bts_twt continue to make a positive impact in [Korea flag] and around the world. #WelcomeBack Jin," the tweet read.

While some fans considered the post to be a simple congratulatory tweet for the idol, others criticized the US Embassy in Seoul. They claimed that the Embassy was allegedly pressuring BTS members, noting that Jin had been discharged only a few hours earlier. Fans said that immediately asking the members to make positive contributions to society was unfair.

Others also alleged that the Seoul US Embassy's tweet was a backhanded comment, indirectly hinting at what the band should do due to their fame. Many fans were unhappy and furious with the tweet, but some also thanked the Embassy for congratulating the singer.

Many also defended the band members and said that they were and should be free to do whatever they liked. The ARMYs (BTS' fandom) added that the band had always made positive impacts, and asking them to continue the same was unnecessarily mentioned by the Seoul US Embassy.

"Positive impact this positive impact that... we just want bts member to do whatever they like with their art... we will support them no matter what. they are artists not diplomats," one fan said on X.

"Thank you for wishing Seokjin and the other members well. They make such a positive impact just being themselves, don’t they?" another fan added.

"So deeply confused by this post like none of the boys are even Korean American so why are you chiming in," a fan wondered.

Some fans also discussed how making a positive impact isn't BTS' responsibility or duty.

"It’s more important for us that BTS are able to do WHATEVER they want, whether or not they are a positive impact in Korea or the world," a fan said on X.

"They’re not diplomats they’re just young musicians so pls stop pressuring them into bringing any impact positive or negative let them just live their lives now pls," a fan replied to the Embassy's post

"The audacity after all the sht y'all put them through. LEAVE THEM ALONE! ask your the next bts'," another fan wrote.

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Seoul U.S. Embassy's congratulatory post on BTS Jin's military discharge receives criticism

The eldest member of the seven-member K-pop group, BTS Jin, was discharged from his mandatory military service on June 12, 2024. He served for 18 months after he enlisted in December 2022 and completed his enlistment as an active drill instructor.

After the 31-year-old was discharged, other BTS members, apart from SUGA, gathered at Jin's military unit's entrance to greet him when he returned. All the other members are currently enlisted in the military, but they applied for leave to attend their band member's discharge.

Upon his return, the singer went to HYBE and immediately started a Weverse livestream to spend time with his fans. After the Weverse livestream, all the BTS members, including SUGA, took a group photo, which their official X handle, @BTS_twt, posted on the platform.

It was the same post that the Seoul US Embassy reposted and was critiqued about. Many fans were unhappy about it, explaining that they felt the comment by the Embassy was backhanded.