BTS, military service and the mental toll of fame: From RM's insomnia to Suga's scooter controversy

BTS is almost back. RM and V returned home yesterday, and today, Jimin and Jungkook exited the military base in triumph. Yet, in all the overflowing joy and celebrations, there is an undercurrent of worry and concern, as the boys have described in veiled terms, the difficulties they faced, to the point that RM even had insomnia, something that fans deduced was due to the entire New Jeans controversy that took place last year.

While RM did not explicitly attribute his insomnia to the NewJeans controversy, fans have speculated that the timing of his sleep disturbances coincided with the heightened tensions within HYBE during that period. The controversy surrounding the simultaneous album releases of RM and NewJeans on May 24, 2024, led to public criticism and internal conflicts within the company. This environment of stress and scrutiny is believed to have exacerbated RM's mental health challenges.

RM, who has never held back from sharing with ARMY, shared his vulnerable moments during the Weverse Live yesterday, detailing the insomnia and his therapy visits. For the first time in his life, RM wasn’t able to write songs, something that he had been doing since the age of 14. “I lived like a zombie,” he said, explaining that even simple daily tasks became difficult and that he went more than 70 hours without sleep.

He had to consult a neuropsychiatrist and while he assured fans that he is better now, he still has fear of nightfall. ARMY is rather battered on hearing this, with many flooding Twitter, wishing that they could provide him comfort and healing, just as his songs had done for them.

Yet BTS’s journey through enlistment and public scrutiny has been far from smooth. For years, the septet carried the weight of criticism—first for delaying enlistment, then for enlisting at all. RM recalled overhearing harsh judgments from strangers before their military service, only to face renewed backlash once they stepped forward.

 During the Weverse Live with RM, V recalled the hurtful comments that he had received, ‘about being on vacation too often’.  In their live, Jimin revealed that Jungkook ‘suffered’ everyday, without going into too many details.

The situation escalated when JTBC broadcast CCTV footage originally claimed to be of Suga, showing a rider on a road at high speed. That footage turned out to be someone else entirely. JTBC later issued an on-air apology, acknowledging the mistake after ARMY flagged the error. The incident had closed with a summary indictment and a fine of about ₩15 million (~US $11,500)

Owing to ARMY’s vigilance, including comparing CCTV footage and pushing for accurate reporting, media outlets such as JTBC retracted their coverage and apologised.

The scars remain, however. Fans remember the humiliating funeral wreaths sent to Hybe’s offices—symbols of deep disrespect aimed at Suga. In response, ARMY rallied, plastering cities with posters and photos in a show of unwavering support.

This may be the price of fame, the harsh glare of a world watching intently, waiting for any misstep. BTS appears to have accepted this reality, channeling their feelings into their music. For ARMY, though, the hope remains that they really don’t have to do so and that they can heal soon. “I don’t want them channel their rage into songs,” one fan had written. “I just want them to be happy and heal.”