Jen Kim

Filmmaker, Writer, Vegetarian and Korean American Adoptee

[colin @colin_goldmund]

There seems to be a surge of backlash toward BTS lately from people clearly rattled by how massive and successful their concert tour has been so far. The usual insults are back again. Questions about their masculinity. Mockery of ARMY. The same tired assumptions.

It reminded me of something that happened a few years ago. One of my male students, after finding out I was a huge ARMY, asked me if I was gay.

Now, in Korea, the relationship between teacher and student is traditionally built on a fairly rigid hierarchy. Students usually do not speak casually to teachers, challenge them, or ask personal questions. But I have always been a different kind of teacher. I treat my students warmly and as equals, and tell them to ask me anything. They do not even call me seonsaengnim. They call me saam, a more casual and affectionate way of addressing a teacher.

So when he asked me that question, I did not see it as hostility. He was curious, not malicious.

I told him that I support gay rights and equal marriage, but loving BTS does not make me gay. I told him that I love BTS because of their extraordinary writing, rapping, singing, and dancing talents. That I love the sincerity and meaning in their lyrics, and the way they consistently treat people with kindness, warmth, and positivity.

And of course, because I am me, the poor student then had to sit through a very long lecture from me about masculinity and how narrow definitions of it can limit people.

To this day, I still find it strange that some people think appreciating artistry, emotional honesty, beauty, or kindness somehow threatens masculinity. If anything, BTS helped expand the idea of what masculinity can look like for millions of people around the world.

And then there is the mockery of ARMY itself. Some people keep repeating this stereotype that ARMYs are lonely women with no lives who pour all their money into BTS. The assumption is not only lazy, but honestly disconnected from reality.

First, there are many male ARMYs, like me. On Korea’s music streaming platform Melon, around 35% of BTS listeners are male. I even checked the listener statistics for “Swim” today (May 12, 2026), and men made up 37% of the listeners.

Futhermore, the ARMYs I have met are some of the most socially active, accomplished, and creative people I know. They have vibrant family lives, meaningful careers, and talents of their own in writing, art, music, design, education, and countless other fields. One ARMY friend from America who visits Korea often holds a major executive position while also involved with multiple organizations.

No, people do not love BTS because they are lonely. We love BTS because they represent the kind of humanity we want to see more of in the world. Empathy. Hard work. Vulnerability. Kindness. Emotional honesty. Growth.

Being ARMY has enormously enriched my life. Without BTS and ARMY, how would I have ended up with close online and offline friends across the United States, Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Asia? The fandom opened doors to human connections I otherwise never would have experienced.

And it is funny to watch some men mock women for passionately following BTS when those same people spend enormous amounts of time, money, and emotional energy on football in America or soccer in Europe. Nobody calls them lonely for flying across countries to watch matches, memorizing statistics, wearing jerseys, or centering weekends around sports. Human beings naturally gather around the things they love. Music is no different. BTS is no different.

As for Jimin’s hair, which is somehow also causing backlash, I love it. It immediately reminded me of Brad Pitt’s hair in Troy, where he played Achilles. Achilles was supposed to be a Mediterranean Greek warrior, yet nobody complained that Pitt had flowing Swedish blonde hair down to his shoulders. People accepted it because he looked charismatic and amazing on screen.

That is exactly how Jimin looks with his long blonde hair. I hope he keeps it throughout the entire concert tour.

[k8ie @taerights]

NOT THE EXACT SHANE HOLLANDER CUT IM CRYING

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Felt it in #Hoboken

[EMSC @LastQuake]

#Earthquake (#sismo) possibly felt 1 min 39 sec ago in #NewYork. Felt it? Tell us via:
📱https://t.co/QMSpuj6Z2H
🌐https://t.co/AXvOM7I4Th
🖥https://t.co/wPtMW5ND1t
⚠ Automatic crowdsourced detection, not seismically verified yet. More info soon!

[Starring Carol ⁷⁼¹ @star_is_carol]

as we say adieu to tt in the usa...here are my favs...

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Happy Anniversary to this masterpiece: I've never related so hard to an album before or since. Future 's gonna be ok. #bts #dday #agustd #suga #yoongi #minyoongi #슈가 #윤기

[Empire State Building @EmpireStateBldg]

I AM FINE

[Governor Kathy Hochul @GovKathyHochul]

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit west of Manhattan and has been felt throughout New York.

My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Well, just felt my 1st ever #earthquake, whole building shook for almost a minute in #Hoboken #newjersey

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Thank u @cineasianfilms 4 featuring my music video Almost Home. It was fun to think about what inspired the concept, the challenges in making it and the message I was trying to convey🌊 https://t.co/NWZjnGyytm #film #films #filmmaker #filmmakers #femalefilmmakers #mv #musicvideos

[Ita O'Brien @ItaOB]

So true!!
As #BrianBates would say, experiencing art in the theatre or cinema is life!!
❤️❤️🌈
https://t.co/Vg1279i3eB

[Golden Globes @goldenglobes]

Steven Yeun accepts the award for Best Male Actor – Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture for his remarkable performance in Beef 🏆

We're LIVE on @CBS and @paramountplus, tune in! #GoldenGlobes

[The Hollywood Reporter @THR]

"I'd be remiss not to thank that driver." - Lee Sung Jin on how #Beef was based on a true road rage incident during his acceptance speech at the 2024 #GoldenGlobes

[Golden Globes @goldenglobes]

🌟 Ali Wong just won a Golden Globe for her performance in Beef 🌟

Congrats on winning Best Female Actor – Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture at the #GoldenGlobes!

[bts 🫧 @lumejeon]

being an army means experiencing every emotion known to humans in the span of 24 hours

[Los Angeles Times @latimes]

Column: We can't afford another writers' strike. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country https://t.co/pDgrrIVfSa

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Marked as to-read: The Dog Who Dared to Dream by Sun-mi Hwang https://t.co/N4P3gUyKe3

[Jen Kim @JenKimCreative]

Marked as to-read: Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park https://t.co/1JMo7ZlQgd

[On The Red Carpet @OnTheRedCarpet]

Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford meet again after many years since #IndianaJones and the Temple of Doom. Tonight, Ke won the Oscar for Best Actor in Supporting Role.
#Oscars95 #oscarwinner #supportingrole #oscars

[The Academy @TheAcademy]

Best Picture goes to...'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Congratulations! #Oscars #Oscars95

[On The Red Carpet @OnTheRedCarpet]

Oscar winner for Best Actress in Leading Role Michelle Yeoh #Oscars95 #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce