The worlds of British football and K-pop collided in a controversial, unexpected way when the Birmingham City Football Club found itself at the center of a storm brewed by the BTS ARMY.
Birmingham City FC is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England. It plays its home games at St. Andrew’s Stadium, which has been their home turf since 1906. Recently, the club announced that it had added South Korean midfielder Paik Seung-ho to its roster of players.
https://www.tiktok.com/@paikc.ho_/video/7332157587053464840?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6908322787502065153
Seung-ho is an Asian Games gold medalist. He’s also a prominent member of the South Korean national football team who was chosen to play in 15 official international matches. His best moments on the pitch include a truly memorable performance in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. He made a goal against Brazil during the Round of 16 and won the Asian Games 10 months later.
Paik signed a two-year contract with Birmingham City FC, which makes him the first-ever South Korean to join the club. His move to the UK comes after nearly three years with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in South Korea. That said, he’s no stranger to Europe, as he grew up and started his professional football career there.
@jorezazemxs What are your thoughts on this ? Recently, the Birmingham City FC has been accused of copying the BTS logo. The professional football club Birmingham City FC recently welcomed South Korean midfielder Paik Seung Ho to their team. The soccer player signed a two-year contract with the football club and became the first South Korean player to represent Birmingham City FC. However, a recent post on social media platform X has stirred a wave of confusion and frustration among K-pop fans, particularly those who follow BTS. The cause of the uproar? The football club used a logo in their “coming soon” post for Paik Seung Ho that copied the beloved BTS emblem and included the initials P S H. This unexpected similarity has left fans perplexed and upset, questioning the originality and intent behind the club’s choice of design.#bts_official_bighit #btsforlife #armyforever #fyp #btsloveyourself #btspavedtheway
What did the club do with the BTS logo?
The controversy erupted thanks to a post on Birmingham City FC’s social media. It was accompanied by a photo bearing a logo similar to the one BTS began using in 2017. This move, intended to celebrate Paik’s signing, was perceived as a blatant act of plagiarism. The backlash was fierce and swift, with ARMYs accusing the football club of disrespecting BTS and misappropriating their logo.
Since their debut, BTS has captivated hearts not only with their music and performances but also with a logo that has become synonymous with their identity. This logo consists of two parts: the ARMY logo and the BTS logo. When you put them together, you get a shield. Some fans believe this shield is bulletproof and that it symbolizes the way the group and their fans protect each other. When the band first started using this logo, their agency, HYBE, told Korean media that it “symbolizes the youth who don’t settle for their current reality and instead open the door and go forward to achieve growth.”
BTS (방탄소년단) LOGO ANIMATION
Clearly, the logo means a lot to both the fans and the group. So, it’s no surprise that the fans’ reactions ranged from bemusement to confusion to outrage when they saw Birmingham City FC’s post. They took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure. Many felt it was disrespectful to use BTS’s logo to represent South Korea and its people. Others wondered if HYBE would sue the club for plagiarism or if it would simply let things slide.
So far, the agency has remained silent. But that hasn’t stopped the fans from airing their sentiments. Stay tuned for updates! – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Fans are wondering how HYBE will react. Source: X/@kimiseul27.