BTS’ Jin Offers Insight on Fandom Dynamics During TV Appearance
On May 15, BTS member Jin graced the South Korean television show Handsome Guys, hosted by a lively ensemble including Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung, Kim Dong-hyun, Oh Sang-uk, and Shin Seung-ho. The program is designed to showcase various unique cultural aspects of South Korea, with each episode featuring a celebrity who embarks on an exploratory travel journey.
Diving into a casual Korean barbecue mukbang, the hosts engaged Jin in conversation, covering a multitude of topics. During the discussion, one host posed a question about which other BTS members might align well with the show’s format. Jin suggested that Jungkook and V would be good candidates, mentioning Jungkook’s love for food and V’s ability to endure playful jests.
Jin elaborated that V and Jungkook frequently engage in a light-hearted bantering dynamic, further solidifying them as suitable guests for Handsome Guys. The hosts playfully considered sending a video invitation to Jungkook, prompting an interesting dialogue about fan interactions.
However, Jin expressed caution when discussing Jungkook, citing concerns over how fans can react to their words. When a host urged him to guarantee Jungkook’s participation, Jin refrained from making any promises, explaining that he does not control the schedules of his fellow members. This cautious approach raised alarms among fans and netizens about the prevailing culture within the fandom.
While Jin did not specify what he meant by “fans are scary,”many interpreted his comments as a reference to the negative reactions some fans exhibit, particularly criticisms. This sentiment sparked a flurry of discussion among fans regarding their relationship with the members:
“The solos really ruined it all,”wrote one fan.
“I hope they never shape their relationships around what someone sitting 2000 miles away has to say,”stated another fan on X.
“It’s actually lowkey heartbreaking that SEOKJIN is saying the fans are scary so he’s even careful of how he speaks to Jungkook??? HIS Jungkook?? who he raised to be his BEST GODDAMN FRIEND?: (,”shared another user.
“And this clearly shows members know what those solos do. How they drag other members over a small mention of their bias,”remarked a netizen.
The camaraderie among the BTS members has become complicated by the pressure exerted by some fans, leading to broader conversations about how this affects their interactions:
“The fans are scary. That’s why I don’t speak carelessly to Jungkook either.”This quote indicates a specific concern, as highlighted by another fan.
“It is sad to see members acknowledging that they can’t freely talk to each other because of scary fans who attack them for everything,”added a user on X.
“People are missing the point. It’s insane that Seokjin has to watch how he interacts with Jungkook. Like that’s his baby brother! I dislike some parts of fandoms,”a netizen emphasized.
“‘Fans are scary’ – I bet all the tannies know by now about useless akgaes,”observed another user.
Insight into BTS’ Jin’s Recent Activities
Jin, a renowned singer and songwriter, debuted with BTS under Big Hit Entertainment in 2013. Over the years, he has contributed solo tracks like “Epiphany”and “Awake”to the group’s albums and released independent songs such as “Tonight”and “Abyss”on SoundCloud. However, his official solo career launched with “The Astronaut”in October 2022. Shortly after, Jin began his mandatory military service and is expected to complete it in June 2024.
Upon his return, Jin engaged in notable activities, including serving as South Korea’s representative for the 2024 Paris Olympics Torch Relay at the Louvre Museum on July 14. By August, he had also initiated his own variety show called RUN JIN, drawing inspiration from the popular RUN BTS series. Furthermore, in November 2024, he released his solo studio album Happy, featuring “Running Wild”as its leading single.
Jin is currently gearing up for his solo tour, scheduled for June 2025, which is themed around his variety show RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR. Additionally, fans are eagerly anticipating his second studio album, titled Echo, set to be released on May 16 at 1 PM KST.