The Promises of 2016: A Warsaw Army's Do-Over with BTS

It's been a remarkable journey since I first crossed the gates of K-pop with my full throttle commitment on what is now a one-year anniversary of being a BTS Army. As I reflect on my journey, I fondly remember my enthusiastic and sometimes misguided beliefs about the group. Here's a humorous yet heartfelt retrospective of the 'dumbest' things I believed about these incredible artists. Happy anniversary, my friends!

The BTS Baby Army: A Baby ARMY Retrospective

Back in the early days of 2016, when I was a newborn in the BTS Army, there was an impending military service misconception that pretty much everyone was 30 years old. This belief was so firmly ingrained in my mind that I spent a lot of time and effort trying to prepare for something that, of course, didn't exist.

Imagine spending your 21st birthday prepping for an occasion that was decades away. That's the kind of commitment I was showing, and it revealed just how newbie I was in the K-pop world. Watching their music videos from old compilations like Danger Fire Blood Sweat Tears really showcased their incredible youth and vigor, leading me to think, "Wow, I need to kick my skincare routine up a notch if I want to look like them!" On hindsight, it was a pretty silly thought, but it showed how enthusiastic I was back then.

The Band's Numerical Mischief

My naivety extended to the band's composition. I believed that BTS consisted of 11 members. Who could have thought, not counting title suffixes, I mistakenly grouped RM, Namjoon, and Taehyung under the family tree, imagining they were cousins. Talk about a misguided belief! The truth is, V and Taehyung are the only brothers in the group, while Jin and Namjoon are siblings, a fact that always complicates my name-memorizing process.

Adding to the confusion, I thought RM, Namjoon, and Taehyung shared the same last name, Kim. Yes, in my early days, I would hear "Kim Namjoon" and "Kim Taehyung" and imagine them standing side by side as siblings. It was a funny yet embarrassing realization that I was mistaken on multiple fronts. The simple truth is, Kim Namjoon and V (whose real name is Kim Taehyung) are not cousins.

The Language of Fluency

Another significant mistake I made early on was thinking Taehyung could speak 14 languages fluently. Trust me, it took me two years to unlearn this belief. It's not that unlearned in my mind, but it's entirely and comprehensively false. Taehyung is hugely talented, but learning several languages is a very different and time-consuming process, and he's gotta focus on music and the fans.

The 'hyung' and 'noona' terminology was equally misunderstood. In my mind, everyone used them, just like 'oppa' is used in Korean and 'onii-chan' in Japanese. Little did I know that 'hyung' is a term of respect but not commonly used by everyone. It's generally used by younger fans when addressing members much older than themselves. The confusion around 'oppa' and 'pabo' further highlighted my lack of understanding of K-culture.

Cultural Misundersstandings

Culturally, I often made funny mistakes. For instance, the date format in Korea being written as year-month-date always tripped me up. I wrongly concluded that Jungkook was born in January 9, 2001, and Jin was born in April, 12, 2004. The reality is, Jungkook was born on September 1, 1997, and Jin on April 9, 1994. The confusion is understandable, but it's always good to do your research.

Lastly, in my venture into K-pop, I went on a search for familiar last names, thinking Namjoon, J-Hope, and Jimin were part of the 'hyung' line because of their height. It's a common mistake to associate height with the 'hyung' status, since taller individuals are often seen as more mature or experienced. But remember, in BTS, Jimin is the maknae, the youngest member.

Final Thoughts and Goodbyes

Now, as I look back, I marvel at how far I’ve come in my knowledge and appreciation of BTS. The journey has been filled with laughter, tears, and genuine learning. I still remember those early mistakes with a smile, knowing how much I've grown since. Here's to another wonderful year in the life of a BTS Army.

Until next time, have a good day, afternoon, or night!