BTS RM’s Picture On The Presidential Website Invites Intense Backlash

BTS’s RM was recently spotted on the presidential website of South Korea, and ARMYs are not too pleased about it.

RM | @rkive/Instagram

On September 17, KST, President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the 15^th Infantry Division of the army, a frontline unit in the Gangwon Province where RM is serving his mandatory military duties.

The presidential website posted multiple pictures from Yoon’s visit, including one with all the soldiers at the base.

In another, more zoomed-in picture on the website, RM could be easily spotted standing very close to the President.

The picture has drawn sharp criticism and apprehension from international fans, who felt it was a subtle attempt to exploit RM’s popularity for political brownie points. ARMYs felt that the rapper must have been uncomfortable being put in such a position despite making his stance clear through his music and his actions.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but y’all can’t tell me that placement wasn’t intentional. https://t.co/Ri8WZ5qNC4

— tam (@withlovetam) September 17, 2024

My man literally sang "Not a fuckin' diplomat" Okay.
Okay deep exhale… He belongs to us after 9 months or 266 days to be exact. https://t.co/ZmCEruE3gA

— Ashrkive⁷💜 아포방포 NEVA PLAY (@ashtots) September 17, 2024

When he said not a fcking diplomat THIS was he was talking about. https://t.co/6mkXqpbovp

— Lu⁷ 💜 (Taylor Version) WE ARE BULLETPROOF 🇨🇴 (@luisbulletproof) September 17, 2024

Tell me this is not intentional at all gosh https://t.co/kulmwaAILh

— Nisa⁷ (@nisaaaaBTS) September 17, 2024

Years of sk president not getting any photo ops with bts and this is what it took to get it 🥴 https://t.co/83svui7qFY

— eve⁷ (@abibillyhill) September 17, 2024

when will the govt leave him alone https://t.co/Xp8tNnrfWt

— s (@yoongienthusias) September 17, 2024

no way did they put him front and center like that. his face tells you absolutely EVERYTHING and joon is quite good at schooling his expressions.
this is gross exploitation, but what is the fuckass military if not a tool of exploitation, violence, and fascism? https://t.co/6jBrXH3J8m

— a🍉 (@stillwithjin) September 17, 2024

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