“It’s Time for Action!”— BTS Jungkook’s Chuseok Message on Weverse Sparks Fan Speculation About Exclusion of ARMY

On September 16, 2024, BTS member Jungkook conveyed his warm wishes for a Happy Chuseok through a post on Weverse. Chuseok, recognized for its cultural importance in Korea, is a significant harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Currently serving in the military since December 2023, Jungkook stated:

“I hope you have a good Chuseok”✋

While fans were excited to receive an update from the idol, many quickly recognized an unusual aspect of his message. Unlike his typical updates, which often include heartfelt mentions of ARMY, this message was notably brief and impersonal. This led to discussions among his fanbase, with some speculating that the reserved tone of his post might connect to recent controversies linked to his support for NewJeans.

In light of the ongoing tensions amidst the label and the reactions from fans, many think that Jungkook’s subdued Chuseok greeting could be a subtle reflection of his disappointment regarding the controversy. Fans expressed their concerns about others crossing boundaries, emphasizing that it’s time for ARMYs to respect Jungkook’s personal choices. An X user @weare_bts7 remarked:

“It’s high time we should behave now!!!! Let’s get out JK’s *cutely written* texts back.”

“Yeah, I think Jungkook has seen ARMY’s attitude toward him on his IG comments and here, and I believe he will never view this fandom the same way again. I am so sad and so mad,”a fan wrote.

“My man is winning the idgaf war so hard, love him,”another user commented.

“He remains so kind, but as someone who understands a bit of Korean, I felt the distance in his tone. Jungkook is killing them with kindness, which they don’t deserve,”an X user stated.

Some fans noted that Jungkook’s Korean messages often get translated as “said cutely”on platforms like X. However, his recent message did not have the usual playful or affectionate tone fans have come to expect.

“Jungkook said ‘hope you spend Chuseok well’ but *not cutely*—my world is ending,”a user wrote.

“The (written cutely) missing from the Weverse post is a little haunting. We Gov, you will not be forgiven if you seriousify my cutie,”another person wrote.

BTS’ Jungkook’s Support Post for NewJeans Reportedly Caused Controversy

Earlier, Jungkook had shared a post on his dog’s Instagram account (@bowwow_bam), which many fans interpreted as a show of support for the girl group NewJeans, amidst the ongoing conflicts between HYBE and former ADOR CEO, Min Hee-jin.

This led to backlash from certain fans opposing Min Hee-jin’s actions, which indirectly criticized NewJeans. Some fans expressed their frustrations directly on Jungkook’s account, leading to messages that condemned his decision to support the group.

In response to the developments, BIGHIT Music clarified that Jungkook’s post was sincere, aiming to highlight that young artists should not be embroiled in disputes. They later stated:

“We have confirmed that he posted it because he believed that no circumstances should allow a young artist to be caught in a dispute and used as a shield.”

The difference between his typical warm messages and this straightforward post garnered the attention of ARMYs. This shift in tone aroused further speculation among fans, leaving many to wonder if his more subdued message reflected his true feelings amid the ongoing tensions concerning his support for NewJeans and the backlash from certain factions within the fanbase.

Jungkook is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service since December 2023, with an expected return to the spotlight in June 2025.

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