How much is too much for ARMYs?

Recently, BTS member Suga made headlines when it was revealed that he had been involved in a DUI incident while riding a scooter. Initially, the news seemed to cause little concern among fans, with many brushing it off. However, the situation quickly escalated when it was discovered that Suga’s company, HYBE, had downplayed the severity of the incident.

According to early reports, HYBE claimed that Suga was merely riding an electric kickboard and had only consumed a single beer. However, new details have emerged that paint a much darker picture: Suga was reportedly riding a vehicle closer to a motorcycle, and his breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol content was eight times the legal limit in South Korea. This revelation has led some fans to reassess their stance on the incident and the integrity of the information provided by HYBE.

While many South Korean ARMYs have publicly condemned the criminal act and distanced themselves from it, there remains a significant portion of the international fanbase that continues to offer unwavering support. For these fans, their loyalty to BTS seems unshakeable, even in the face of troubling behavior. 

The handling of this incident brings to mind another recent controversy involving BTS member V, who promoted McDonald’s on Instagram. Despite McDonald’s being linked to the genocide in Gaza, many ARMYs were quick to downplay the situation, insisting that V was simply unaware of these issues. However, it’s worth noting that V is often celebrated as the highest-paid idol for Instagram posts, which suggests that this was more than a casual post, it was paid promotion. He has taken money from a company who finance the murders of people, and ARMYs defended such act.

Similarly, BTS’s youngest member, Jungkook, has faced multiple scandals, including a near-fatal car accident while allegedly under the influence, breaking COVID-19 regulations, and liking provocative videos of underage girls on TikTok. Each time, ARMY has excused or overlooked his actions.

This pattern of behavior raises important questions about fan culture and the potential consequences of blind loyalty. If incidents like DUI, promoting controversial companies, or even endangering lives aren’t enough to cause a shift in perspective, what would it take for some fans to reconsider their unconditional support? Even serial killers have fan followings, so it’s fair to wonder—if this behavior had cost lives, would ARMY have changed their minds, or would they have been sending letters to prison instead of posting on Weverse?

It’s hard to accept, but many fans develop obsessive parasocial relationships with idols, so deep that it leads them to do irrational things—even supporting them when their true colors reveal not bright purple, but the darkest shade of evil.