Thirteen years ago, BTS debuted amid skepticism and dismissal from many within the South кσяєαn entertainment industry simply because they came from a small company. In their early years, the group was frequently ignored and subjected to disrespectful treatment by various industry insiders and major organizations. One notable example is Mnet’s MAMA, which was the only major awards ceremony that did not extend an invitation to BTS, despite the group having debuted for six months and released music during that year.

Thirteen years later, BTS has become a global icon, boasting a mαѕѕive worldwide fanbase and setting numerous records that few Asian artists have ever achieved. At their current stature, many believe that BTS has long since moved past the phase of being overlooked or disrespected. Their name is celebrated not only by domestic media but also internationally, and they have even been personally mentioned by political figures.

However, reality suggests that the lack of respect toward BTS has not entirely disappeared. From an incident on a television program in мєχι¢σ—where a guest referred to BTS as “some unknown singer” and mockingly remarked that “bet half of those fans haven't even finished elementary school”—to the most recent case in which SUGA was sidelined from a public voting event without any clear explanation, fans could not help but erupt in outrage.

Specifically, on the 6th, fans circulated information claiming that SUGA’s name had been removed from the March Birthday Vote, a poll organized by Mnet Plus for idols born in March. This is a familiar voting format in which all idols are given equal opportunities to be nominated, and the winner receives symbolic rewards such as an Mnet TV advertisement on their birthday.

What angered fans most was the fact that SUGA—one of K-pop’s leading artists today—was completely absent from the nominee list, despite fully meeting the criteria for the vote. Moreover, when fans submitted complaints directly to Mnet Plus seeking clarification, the platform reportedly offered no response or corrective action, making the situation even more baffling and disappointing.

SUGA is certainly not lacking in large-scale birthday projects organized by fans. Every year, ARMYs around the world plan numerous celebrations, including birthday banners on buses, LED advertisements in shopping malls, subway stations, major bus stops, and many other lively commemorative events. However, the core issue this time does not lie in the value of the voting reward, but rather in the principles of fairness, transparency, and respect for both the artist and their fandom.

Many have argued that excluding SUGA from the vote without providing a legitimate reason is an unprofessional move—especially given that Mnet Plus is a major platform with considerable influence within the K-pop community. Fans emphasize that they are not demanding special privileges for BTS, but simply fair treatment—soмєтнing that should be guaranteed to all artists. And when Mnet fails to uphold this standard, they must be held accountable.

ARMYs have widely shared posts stating, “Despite thousands of complaints, @mnetplus continues to discriminate and exclude SUGA from the March birthday vote. Fans deserve transparency and fair treatment!” to express their frustration. In addition, many have left ratings and reviews on Mnet Plus’s Google Play Store and App Store pages to protest what they perceive as discriminatory practices by the platform.

In response to the incident, netizens have left numerous comments, including:

- They still haven't included Yoongi? Unacceptable and unbelievable!

- @mnetplus I pray that Yoongi nor BTS ever have anything to do with your fraudulent discriminatory ways.  You will be getting a very negative review.

- I’ve been diligently checking in since November for this, and this is what we get? You’re disgusting

- Excluding SUGA from a birthday vote with zero explanation is blatant disrespect—not just to him, but to millions of fans who support him

- Mnet keeps talking about ‘fair voting,’ yet somehow one of the biggest artists in K-pop is magically мιѕѕιиg

- ARMYs aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for BASIC fairness. If the rules apply to everyone, why don’t they apply to SUGA?

- Mnet has a long history of sidelining BTS. From ignoring them in their rookie years to this—nothing has changed

- You can’t erase SUGA from a public vote and expect fans to stay quiet. Transparency is the bare minimum, and Mnet Plus failed

- It’s wild how Mnet benefited from BTS’s success globally, yet still treats them like they’re expendable when it comes to respect

- How big BTS gets, Mnet still finds ways to undermine them. They're too rude