BTS Get Real About The Heartbreaking Treatment They Received From Fellow K-Pop Idols In Their Early Career

BTS is one of the biggest groups in the world and is loved by millions worldwide. In their new book, the members revealed the hardships they suffered, especially when it came to the treatment they received from other idols.

The members of BTS | @bts_bighit/Twitter

Since debuting in 2013, BTS has grown and, through their hard work and dedication to their music and fans, have become one of the biggest artists in the world, not just within K-Pop.

Your browser does not support video.BTS’s debut song “No More Dream” | HYBE LABELS/YouTube Your browser does not support video.BTS’s “DNA” video | HYBE LABELS/YouTube Your browser does not support video.BTS “Yet To Come” video | HYBE LABELS/YouTube   

However, when BTS debuted back in 2013, their success wasn’t destined or predetermined. Although HYBE is now one of the biggest K-Pop companies, BTS debuted under BIGHIT MUSIC and didn’t have the same “perks” or “advantages” other groups had.

BTS and HYBE founder Bang Si Hyuk

BTS recently released their new book, and it’s given the members a platform to share untold stories from their journey from trainees to the biggest stars in the world.

Yet, while many were positive and showcased the journey, some were more heartbreaking for fans to read. In particular, one moment shared the poor treatment the members received from other K-Pop idols in their early days.

… Always be the first to say hello and greet everyone, the sunbaes and the hoobaes, but some people just ignored us and passed right by. Or mocked us for not even being candidates for top place.

— BTS

Yet, while it is easy to expect idols to brush it off, BTS was still very young, and it’s not surprising that it impacted them. In particular, the book revealed that it was such a hurtful moment, and V revealed that it was so bad that it caused a member of the group to cry.

After the broadcast, we all got into the van together… Someone was crying, someone was really mad, and someone just couldn’t speak. That unspeakable disappointment and that tear-jerking emotion was just too much.

— BTS’s V

While BTS didn’t mention names, some netizens tried to guess who they could’ve been talking about. Yet, many just focused on the horrible treatment the members got and how despite the hardships, they worked hard and continued trying to pursue their goal, which led them to become one of the biggest artists in the world.

its so crazy bc those same groups who shamed them in the past now wont correct people when they get mistaken for bts and will use their name to get special treatment that they dont deserve

— little seven (@koomilkk) July 8, 2023

cw // spoiler bts book

so other groups literally mocked bts, ignored & passed by them when they all greeted everyone politely – both sunbaes and hoobaes alike. AND A MEMBER CRIED BECAUSE OF THIS.

I AM SO MAD

— jan ♡ ᵇʸ ʲᵏ (@saintjiminpark) July 8, 2023

The fact that BTS was mocked by everyone around them including hoobaes who should've been respectful just based on that, and then turned out to be the actual BEST sunbaes to EVERY artist at HYBE and even some outside of it truly says everything you need to know about them.

— ????????????????????????⁷????ℭ????????????????????????????????❖7/7 Event Staff (@MinKittenPDNim) July 9, 2023

it drives me insane that there were truly NOBODY on BTS’ side majority of the time starting when they debuted

their so called “sunbaes” mocking them and even “hoobaes” who debuted after them were the same and yall want us to believe the “kpop community” is one happy family?

— lea⁷ ‍ (@seokjinbit) July 8, 2023

Yet, it wasn’t just the other artists that saw BTS go through a tough time in the first few years of their careers.

The book also touched upon the hardships suffered when the group was called the “villains” of the K-Pop industry. In particular, it spoke about the hate they received after the release of their 2016 album WINGS.

Your browser does not support video.“Blood, Sweat & Tears” was released with “Wings” | HYBE LABELS/YouTube 

In the book, it recounted the horrible #BREAKWINGS hashtag. Although it emphasized the lack of influence, it explained, “it does demonstrate that by around this time, the public attacks on BTS had reached the international stage,” also pointing to the group’s rising fame.

As always, despite all the hardships they suffered, the members got stronger, and it has helped them to get to where they are now.