Recently, the scandal involving BTS member Suga’s drinking and driving has caused significant division within the BTS fan community. Notably, perspectives on the issue vary greatly between South Korean fans and international fans. CedarBough T. Saeji, an assistant professor specializing in Korean and East Asian Studies at Pusan National University, believes this divide stems from differing perceptions of the role of idols.
“While ‘idol’ is just a word in many countries, in Korea, it has long referred to celebrities who must be worthy of being idolized — they are expected to be perfect, even off stage,” Saeji said in an interview with the Korea Times. “At the same time, the media often uses idols and the stories surrounding them to show the public how they should or shouldn’t behave. This can be seen through controversial articles on various topics.”
Saeji explained that international ARMY (BTS’s fanbase) are more likely to defend Suga due to Korea’s strict expectations of celebrity behavior. The case of the late actor Lee Sun Kyun illustrates this high standard.
Lee Sun Kyun, a well-known A-list actor in Korea with a friendly image, faced a drug scandal in October 2023, which led to intense media scrutiny and public backlash. Despite his pleas of innocence, the Korean public remained unsympathetic. The situation escalated when, during the ongoing investigation, Lee Sun Kyun tragically took his own life. He was found dead in his car in December 2023, while the drug use investigation was still underway.
“Many ARMY feel that as fans, it is their duty to protect BTS, and incidents like Lee Sun Kyun’s make them anxious,” Saeji said. “The incident has made many international ARMY worried that something worse could still happen regarding this case.”
Meanwhile, Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, shared a similar viewpoint. She spoke about the concerns of American fans when it comes to celebrity scandals.
“I think American ARMY are also worried about the harmful effects that the Korean public’s response may have on Suga’s health and well-being,” Grace said. “American fans are familiar with the history of celebrity suicides following scandals after being hounded by the media and their fans.”
“Regarding Suga, many American ARMY believe that he made a mistake and has apologized. They feel that this offense is less severe because no one was harmed.”
Kao also pointed out that the fanbase is less divided when it comes to more serious crimes, where the harm is more evident. She cited the case of Taeil, who was removed from the K-pop group NCT by his management company SM Entertainment on August 28 due to allegations of sexual misconduct. These accusations are something even international fans cannot overlook.
“If others are harmed, it increases the risk. American fans are less likely to forgive stories involving harassment or sexual assault,” Grace Kao added.
