BTS Island: In The SEOM, an official mobile game that’s an integral part of BTS’ IP, came under fire for its portrayal of BTS member Jimin.
【BTS Island: In the SEOM】 1st Anniversary Special Video
This game, which hit the market on June 28, 2022, takes direct inspiration from real-life incidents involving the BTS members. All seven members actively participated in designing their characters and provided input regarding the gameplay and storyline. Since its release, the game has enjoyed immense popularity among fans. It’s considered a fun way for baby ARMY to learn about the group’s history and the dynamics between the members.
However, some scenes in the game show Jimin‘s character expressing self-doubt. In one particular scene, Jimin‘s character is shown doubting whether he’s worthy of being in the group. He even said he might leave, only to be reprimanded by SUGA’s character. This narrative has not resonated well with fans, leading to widespread criticism on social media platforms, especially Twitter.
EXCUSE ME WHAT ?? this is so disrespectful first the media now this game is trying to put the members against eo wth!!!
RESPECT JIMIN
APOLOGIZE TO JIMIN
WE LOVE YOU JIMIN #HybeApologizeToJimin pic.twitter.com/B4h8x62YYS— Tehreem⁷ //🇵🇸 HOTS IS COMING 🕺🎧🛣️ (@anyGaysBTS) August 8, 2023
Screenshots from the game, shared by ARMY, highlight moments in which Jimin’s character voices insecurities about his dancing and singing. These screenshots quickly went viral, leading to trending taglines such as “APOLOGIZE TO JIMIN” and “RESPECT JIMIN.” Fans have voiced their concerns about the negative impact this narrative could have on Jimin‘s real-life image.
Transitioning to another perspective, some fans have pointed out that the game’s narrative might be drawing from real-life incidents. During BTS’ early years, Jimin reportedly felt left out at times, with SUGA being one of the members who encouraged him to persevere. Most fans believe that the game’s portrayal is an exaggerated and misleading representation of the actual dynamics between the two. They argue that the mobile game misrepresents the supportive relationship between SUGA and Jimin, especially given that Jimin has often named SUGA as one of his biggest supporters since the beginning of their careers.
i hate how they painted jimin and yoongi's relationship in that moment in the game because this is the REAL story .. yoongi always believed in jimin from the beginning. pic.twitter.com/8IlHyYkc4O
— jimin 📁 (@jmfolder) August 8, 2023
BTS Island: In the SEOM was updated
In response to the backlash, some ARMYs shared a screen recording of the scene in question. This recording paints a different picture. It shows SUGA’s character consoling Jimin and encouraging him to practice more. The whole scene suggests playful banter between the two instead of a serious confrontation. This video cleared up many misunderstandings, but the initial portrayal still remains a point of contention for many fans.
Despite these clarifications, the uproar has highlighted the importance of accurate representation in media, especially when dealing with real-life personalities. Fans demand that game developers be more responsible. They believe that although creative freedom is essential, it shouldn’t come at the cost of misrepresenting real-life relationships and dynamics. HYBE has yet to officially address the controversy. However, someone from the team behind the game responded to a K-ARMY.
a k-army shared a reply from 'In the SEOM'
key point: "first of all, we apologize for the inconvenience caused by some lines in the game story. we are checking the contents and will do our best to fix it quickly. we will notify you through a notice when the revision is complete." https://t.co/xJHN1uRSh6 pic.twitter.com/R1gs77mReI— 복근탐구가 (@NoAbsNoLIfe) August 9, 2023
Furthermore, recent updates to BTS Island: In The SEOM suggest it was changed in response to the feedback.
the dialouge that should've never even happened in the first place from the in the seom game has now been changed.
Thank you everyone for speaking up and demanding a change. 🫶🏻This is the praises our forever idol Jimin deserves. pic.twitter.com/S0zeEOIAIK
— kaytee ♡⋆*ೃ:. (@blondemins) August 9, 2023
ARMYs hope that something like this won’t happen again, especially not to Jimin, who has more than done enough to prove he truly deserves to be in BTS. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: BTS Island: In the SEOM celebrated its first anniversary back in July. Source: YouTube/@btsislandintheseom3031.