"This is adorable" — ARMY reacts as BTS' Namjoon celebrates by flaunting his new Pikachu card on Instagram following his win in a Pokémon game

BTS
BTS' Namjoon flaunts his new Crown Rarity Pikachu card. (Images via Instagram/@rkive and X/@bts_bighit)

Fans of BTS leader Kim Namjoon, popularly known as RM, were thrilled when he took to Instagram on December 19, 2024, to celebrate his latest victory in a Pokémon game by flaunting a rare Pikachu card. RM's love for Pokémon and his latest triumph reignited discussions online.

RM’s recent victory involved acquiring a rare Pikachu card, a coveted item in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG). Significantly, in the TCG, players must strategize to win battles and accumulate in-game currency to purchase card packs, where rare cards like Pikachu often appear. The odds of obtaining a high-value Pikachu card, especially limited editions, can be as low as 1 in 216 packs.

Pikachu has been a franchise mascot since its inception in 1996 and remains a global cultural phenomenon. Rare Pikachu cards are highly sought after by collectors, sometimes fetching thousands of dollars at auctions depending on their rarity and condition.

Meanwhile, ARMYs took to social media to express their excitement over Namjoon's Pokémon win. Some fans humorously compared his card collection to their struggles with acquiring BTS merch, while others admired his ability to balance such hobbies with his demanding career. Others found him "adorable."

One fan wrote:

"This is adorable"

ARMYs, as BTS fans are known, have compared his collection habits to their own—citing similarities between collecting Pokémon cards and BTS photocards.

"Namjoon still a child in heart," one fan wrote.
"It was so serious that he went with his bicycle store to store after completing concert," another fan recalled.
"OH MY WORD OF COURSE JOON ALSO PLAYING. My best cards are Charizard and Moltres but My fav is Lapras tho," another fan shared.

Others underscored how rare it is to win the "Crown Rarity Pikachu card" in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG).

"No way Namjoon pulled a Crown Rarity Pikachu card just like that! That is the rarest rarity in the whole game!" one fan noted.
"Omg he plays TCG Pocket too that's so cool. I'm jealous though, I don't have that Pikachu yet," another fan said.
"English version of the Pikachu EX card! anw EX cards are rarer to pull so I can see why he got excited heh," one other fan remarked.

Namjoon's Pokémon obsession, his second solo album, documentary release, and more

Namjoon's fascination with Pokémon dates back to his childhood, and he has openly expressed his admiration for the anime and games in interviews and on social media. His passion resurfaced in 2022 when the Pokémon Bread craze swept South Korea. The collectible of Pokémon stickers came with the bread.

Furthermore, he had previously shared how his father even scoured convenience stores across Seoul to find the bread so Namjoon could expand his collection. He often shared photos of his Pokémon collectibles on Instagram as well.

While celebrating his Pokémon victory, Namjoon released his second solo album, Right People, Wrong Place in May 2024. This album shared its title with his documentary, which delved into his reflections on fame, creativity, and finding balance in a fast-paced world.

The album’s theme explored the juxtaposition of being surrounded by the right people in life yet feeling misplaced due to circumstances or personal struggles. Featuring introspective lyrics and eclectic soundscapes, the project has been lauded for its emotional depth and maturity.

The accompanying documentary premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2024 and later enjoyed a global theatrical release in December.


The Pokémon franchise, which began in 1996, has grown into a multimedia juggernaut encompassing video games, trading cards, anime, and merchandise. With over 1,000 Pokémon species and millions of fans worldwide, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, in particular, has seen a resurgence in recent years.

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Edited by Bharath S
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