'BTS is 7!': ARMY furious after SUGA left out of 'K-pop Global Idol Group' ad amid DUI drama

On August 28, U-Pick, a global fandom platform, named BTS the winner of the 'Best K-pop Global Idol Group' survey, resulting in a Seoul subway ad. The voting process sparked intense competition among K-pop fans, with BTS eventually winning the advertisement position at Yeouido station from September 20 to October 4.

ALSO READ | BTS SUGA's DUI case: After weeks of harassment, JTBC to face legal sanctions by KCSC for misreporting incident

However, the celebration was marred by controversy. On September 9, U-Pick released the final draft of the ad, which featured BTS but excluded member Suga, who is currently involved in a DUI incident. The ad showcased each member with accolades—RM as the 'BTS Leader' and 'Best Rapper,' Jin as 'World Wide Handsome,' J-Hope as the 'Genius Dancer,' Jimin as the 'Best Dancer,' V as 'Best Visual Idol,' and Jungkook as the 'Golden Visual Idol.' 

SUGA's absence, especially since he should have been featured before J-Hope according to the group's chant order, sparked outrage among ARMY.

BTS ARMYs responded strongly, flooding social media with the hashtag "BTS is 7" and demanding that U-Pick put all seven members in the ad or delete it. Some fans even threatened legal action against U-Pick. 

The site addressed the outrage without publicly identifying SUGA or BTS, but the matter remains heated.

The situation was also consistent with a broader statement from the Global ARMY Alliance, which although not directly addressing the SUGA incident, expressed solidarity for all BTS members. Despite persistent controversy, this united response demonstrated ARMY's loyalty to defending their idols.

About SUGA's case:

Rapper SUGA, also known as Min Yoongi and AGUST D, was involved in a drunken incident in which he rode an electric scooter or kickboard. Despite CCTV footage indicating that he did not cause any harm, wore a helmet, followed the prescribed lane for kickboards and pedestrians, and only fell when making a tight bend, the media was unrelenting in its investigation.

ALSO READ | Are NCT fans trying to cover up Taeil's sexual crime scandal? ARMY believe BTS' SUGA is again target to divert attention

After over 100 pieces per agency and heavy TV attention, with some even disseminating bogus CCTV evidence, the weeks of harassment still do not appear to be coming to an end. 

Enjoy 35+ OTTs like ZEE5, LionsgatePlay, Ullu, SunNXT, SonyLIV, Fancode and 250+ Live TV channels at just ₹99