Jealousy is often regarded as a natural “spice” of love, and most romantic relationships are rarely imagined without it. Even the relationship between idols and fans—often stereotyped as “imaginary”—is not devoid of such emotions. Because this industry actively cultivates emotional closeness and a sense of exclusivity, it is safe to say that at least once in their lives, fans have experienced feelings of “jealousy” because of their idols.
At the same time, fans are naturally curious about how idols would react if placed in a real romantic relationship—what would their jealousy look like then? Although BTS have rarely spoken about their personal romantic lives in recent years, their interview history shows that they have been fairly open when answering questions about ideal types and past romantic experiences. And their reactions to the topic of jealousy are no different.
BTS have been willing to show ARMYs how they might behave in front of a girlfriend when feeling jealous—through a lighthearted test, honest conversations, and even reflections on past experiences. The members’ revealed reactions to jealousy allow fans to clearly identify which member would be the most easily jealous boyfriend. At the same time, ARMYs gain deeper insight into the superstars’ personalities within a romantic relationship.
First, the BTS members took part in a popular discussion topic among кσяєαn youth known as the “perilla leaf debate.” The scenario goes as follows: "If your friend sees that your girlfriend is having trouble separating a sesame leaf to eat and your friend comes to her side to help her with his own cutlery would you get jealous?”
While this may sound trivial in many countries, in кσяєα, helping someone separate perilla leaves is considered an intimate gesture, typically reserved for people who share a close relationship. As a result, it has become a “must-ask” question for кσяєαn couples!
Among the BTS members, Jungkook was the first to firmly declare that he would never allow another man to do this for his girlfriend. He repeatedly responded with a resolute “No.”
BTS’s golden maknae even went further, imagining that after separating perilla leaves together, his girlfriend and best friend might end up holding hands and eventually getting married. Just the thought of it was enough to upset him, to the point that the other members had to calm him down and tell him he was thinking too far ahead.
V fully agreed with Jungkook’s feelings and added that he would probably argue with his girlfriend if such a situation actually happened. Moreover, even when fans asked him a similar question again on Weverse, V stood firm in his stance: “LOL. Never.”
By contrast, the remaining members appeared far more relaxed and did not place much weight on the issue. Jimin, in particular, offered a compromise, saying: "Say you’re my significant other. You helped my friend with a perilla leaf then peel mine off too. Wouldn’t that make it okay?" The older members seemed relatively confident and easygoing in their relationships.
Compared to the reactions of the other members, the responses of BTS’s two youngest members were clearly the most intense—marking them as the most possessive and protective boyfriend types. V and Jungkook could not tolerate the idea of another man being close to their girlfriends—even if it was only a hypothetical scenario. Witnessing their heated reactions, the remaining members could not help but laugh, once again confirming them as the most jealous boyfriends in BTS.
Next comes RM, whose case is more contradictory. During the perilla leaf debate, the BTS leader said that helping to separate perilla leaves would not bother him and that he would not mind. However, a story he once shared in the past suggests that he is not entirely immune to jealousy.
RM once confessed on a television program that his high school girlfriend received a great deal of attention from other boys, which made him feel uncomfortable and irritated. What do we call that feeling? Isn’t it jealousy? Therefore, it can be said that he is not all that different from the younger members of the group.
Ultimately, the members’ candid reactions remind ARMYs that they are just ordinary men, no different from any other young adults. Rather than constructing a flawless, untouchable image, the idols’ openness makes them feel more “human.” ARMYs clearly take pleasure in seeing the members candidly reveal the most ordinary and genuine sides of themselves.
