BTS Fans Rally Behind Suga After Omission from Ad Campaign Sparks Outrage

In a recent turn of events, fans of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS expressed unified support for all seven members of the group, following suggestions that member Suga should be excluded from promotional material. This backlash came after a fan-voted contest organized by U-Pick, a global fandom platform for fans of K-pop artists and Korean actors, led to an advertisement opportunity for the group.

On August 28, U-Pick announced that BTS had won the ‘Best K-pop Global Idol Group’ poll, securing an advertisement video at a prominent location in Seoul, South Korea. The fan-voting contest ignited fervent participation among K-pop fandoms, with contenders including EXO, ENHYPEN, SEVENTEEN, WayV, and others. BTS’ victory granted them an advertisement spot at Yeouido station from September 20 to October 4, 2024.

However, controversy soon followed as fans noticed a critical omission in the final draft of the video, released on September 9. The advertisement, which was meant to celebrate BTS' success, presented each member of the group with unique accolades—except for Suga, who was conspicuously left out. The ad described RM as the ‘BTS Leader’ and ‘Best Rapper,’ Jin as ‘Our Universe Jin’ and ‘World Wide Handsome,’ J-Hope as ‘Genius Dancer,’ and Jimin as the ‘Best Dancer’ and ‘King of K-pop,’ among others. Fans were quick to point out that, according to the usual chant chronology, Suga should have been introduced before J-Hope.

In response to the omission, the BTS ARMY—known for their unwavering loyalty—took to social media, demanding accountability from U-Pick. “BTS is 7” became a trending phrase on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), as fans rallied around Suga and voiced their discontent with the platform’s oversight.

While U-Pick addressed the situation, the statement was vague, neither naming Suga nor directly mentioning BTS. Nonetheless, the global fandom’s support for Suga remained resolute, reinforcing the sentiment that all seven members are equally vital to the group’s identity.