Have you seen the hashtag or topic, “SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS” on X? That’s all thanks to BTS’ fan club, ARMY.
Over the weekend, ARMYs started and held an online protest against the South Korean government with the hashtag, “SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS,” when news broke out that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered an investigation into the sajaegi allegations against HYBE, BTS’ agency.
On Saturday, May 3, 2024, the South Korean culture ministry said that they had received a petition to investigate the reasons behind why HYBE was blackmailed and paid off the said blackmailers in 2017. The Korea Creative Content Aegncy (KOCCA) will be leading a thorough investigation on HYBE.
Another petition to the South Korean culture ministry said that should the sajaegi allegations be true, the Order of Cultural Merit given to BTS should be retracted.
Because of these circumstances, ARMYs then held an online protest on different social media platforms.
3 wise men once said: "fvck you, i dont care, you can't control my sh!t" infront of the government offcials before announcing their enlistment
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS pic.twitter.com/qGzizbQNHz
— nom⁷ | rpwp (@jmimiangel) May 4, 2024
There really isn’t anything lower than throwing these incredible men under the bus when they are literally serving their country and can’t defend themselves while they’re away 😑
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
BTS HAVE ARMYS#BTSARMY #BTS pic.twitter.com/MHLozAkauE— 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐊𝐢𝐦 ꪜ 💜🧬 ⟭ARMY!⟬ (@KimsterW) May 4, 2024
My heart is aching seeing all this situation. My boys don't deserve this. They are literally serving in military, I can't even imagine how they are feeling Right now. South Korea DOESN'T deserve TREASURE like BTS.
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS pic.twitter.com/qUXNtT3P0X— Jungkooᴋ⁷🇵🇸 (@JKBff97) May 4, 2024
South Korea and KPOP,let me remind you 90% of your popularity around the globe is just bcz of BTS so you better treat my boys right.
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
WE ARE WITH YOU BTS 💜
BTS HAVE ARMYS 🫂
ARMY FOREVER BTS FOREVER🫂
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS👑
BTS THE KINGS👑 pic.twitter.com/mccf4jaOgv— Jungkooᴋ⁷🇵🇸 (@JKBff97) May 4, 2024
Oh right…it's a chart manipulation!!
They manipulate everyone there to sing this while going out of stadium??!!SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
WE ARE WITH YOU BTS
WITH BTS TILL THE END
BTS HAVE ARMYS
ARMY FOREVER BTS FOREVER
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS
BTS THE KINGS#APOBANGPO pic.twitter.com/XN7mF0O19A— Purpleʷᶦᵗʰ ᵇᵗˢ⁷ (@Purple71478143) May 5, 2024
Talk is cheap 😎
The truth is evident and will stay vivid.SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
WE ARE WITH YOU BTS
BTS HAVE ARMYS
ARMY FOREVER BTS FOREVER
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS pic.twitter.com/TM1Qcs4jME— Kristine Snow⁷ (OT7) 🌸❄️🌼 (@Sweetbunch07) May 5, 2024
WE ARE WITH YOU BTS
WITH BTS TILL THE END
BTS HAVE ARMYS
ARMY FOREVER BTS FOREVER
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS
BTS THE KINGS
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS#BTS #bts @BIGHIT_MUSIC pic.twitter.com/C6ipHTdhCT— 🦋 (@vvvvv0224) May 5, 2024
Bangtan worked hard giving their blood sweat and tears and get all their achievements by their hardwork. DON'T EVER DARE TO DISRESPECT THEM. FVCK SOUTH FVCKING KOREA.
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO… pic.twitter.com/cLxUv2cejq— Jiminized🎀 (@jimino_phile) May 4, 2024
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
THEY EXIST BECAUSE OF BTS. pic.twitter.com/XPrQ398Sa7— Jungkook Mom 🩷💜🩷💜🩷💜🩷 (@Emjaykimjeon197) May 5, 2024
but what the fuck are you saying? BTS's sales coincide with the stadiums they fill, with the numbers on all their platforms, with everything! Leave BTS alone! Motherfuckers, investigate the entire k-pop industry, that shit is fraudulent.
SOUTH KOREA APOLOGIZE TO BTS
BTS BTS BTS https://t.co/yi8lKx4bQQ— People ᴮᵀˢ⁷|BTS PAVED THE WAY (@sugarap_1993) May 5, 2024
They bring in billions into your country every year, held a free concert for you, clean up your mess every time you screw up, and are serving in the military like proud soldiers and citizens of your country and this is how you treat them? Shame on you South Korea
— Seokjinisloml ʷᶦᵗʰ ᵇᵗˢ (@missingjin24x7) May 4, 2024
SHAME ON THIS MINISTRY. They are bringing up a case that was solved and BTS were found NOT GUILTY of sajegi. But yes give them some money and they'll pull these acts. Loosers
— K⁷ (@gucci_vcut) May 4, 2024
WE ARE WITH YOU BTS
WITH BTS TILL THE END
BTS HAVE ARMYS
ARMY FOREVER BTS FOREVER
BTS HAS MOST ORGANIC SUCCESS
BTS THE KINGS
BTS THE BEST
BTS PAVED THE WAY
BTS OUR PRIDE— ☀️00:00⁷☀️ (@Boracityforever) May 4, 2024
We are tired of this ungreatfull country
— 💋☀️ (@SICKTEAR7) May 4, 2024
Wouldn't it be possible, since the facts have not changed, to also sue the people in question, who once again make these accusations and share them on every possible SNS @BIGHIT_MUSIC
it's time to take off the kid gloves. we've had enough of this circus— shrifa⁷ REST 아포방포🔍⍤⃝🔎FAN of ᴮᴱ ⁷ ⟭⟬ ⟬⟭ (@elhichri0) May 4, 2024
Shame on south Korea , this country is so ungrateful !! without BTS your country and K-pop would be unknown
— JUNGKOOK VOTING TEAM (@JJK_VotingTeam) May 4, 2024
Paris Match is doing better reporting on YOUR NATIONAL TREASURE – BTS. Have some shame. 🤬💜👇 #BTSARMY https://t.co/Oe9rrFqzIy pic.twitter.com/PzSSyiE9ek
— Tia∞⁷ at the Wrong Place but for RIGHT PERSON! ⟭⟬ (@MrsTOH2O) May 5, 2024
For context: BTS and HYBE were formerly embroiled in allegations of illegal chart manipulation, or sajaegi since 2015 and 2017. The first wave of allegations came in 2015, with BTS’ mini album at the time, ‘The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1’.
The album had propelled BTS into mainstream fame. There were court documents in 2017 stating that someone was threatening to expose BTS for allegedly using illegal marketing tactics.
HYBE has since then denied all these allegations and said that they will be monitoring and reporting malicious posts that are damaging to BTS.
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