Thread by @BaseLineWoo

Thread🧵: It's important for new ARMY to understand the significance of terms like "MAY TERROR" and "BREAK WINGS PROJECT" when we mention them on the timeline. I've attempted to describe the severity of the attacks during those periods a few times in other posts of mine.

I’ve decided to make this thread of THIS part of our BTS and ARMY history.

#BTSARMYHistory

Those of us who have been here for a while, as well as newer ARMY who have taken the time to learn about our history, understand the context behind these terms. This knowledge helped many of us recognize and avoid being party to the manipulative and hateful nature of recent events, which are now being revealed for what they truly are.

I wanted to summarise the "MAY TERROR" and “BREAK WINGS PROJECT” (2016), as you should already know was a tough time for BTS and ARMY. It was a time filled with attacks and baseless accusations against BTS, all stemming from years of pointless hate.

From their debut, BTS faced mockery for their lack of money (not having come from one of the “Big 3”), concepts, appearance, and even their name. Despite their talent and hard work, they were often belittled and underestimated. The situation escalated when BTS won their first music show in May 2015 for “I NEED U”, only to be accused of sajaegi (chart manipulation), because BTS had beat out big name releases by ȾV*Q and $Ǚper JǙn!or and B!gBȺng. Despite explanations from ARMY, the accusations persisted. BigHit successfully contested the accusations in court proving that there had been no such attempts of sajaegi and all sales were legitimately from ARMY support and as we all know by now BigHit was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time, which added to the absurdity of the accusation in the first place.
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In May 2016, things got even worse with the release of "HYYH Young Forever." BTS faced absurd plagiarism accusations, triggering yet another wave of anti’s attacks. These attacks included mocking their appearance, spreading false rumors, and more hate hashtags.

#BTSARMYHistory
**I have auto-translated, via Papago, the images as many HTs were in Hangul.pann-choa.blogspot.com/2015/10/enter-…

The “BREAK WINGS PROJECT” project initiated and executed by other fandoms to impede BTS' burgeoning success. Originating in 2016, this project aimed to sabotage BTS' "Wings" comeback in October of that year. Fans from many groups, many for the “Big3” joined in spreading hate comments under BTS' new releases and photos on all SNS platforms. More accusations of sajaegi and plagiarism slander followed to further sabotage the "WINGS" album comeback.

#BTSARMYHistory

The attacks reached a peak during BTS's stage, where a five-fandom union planned a major anti-fan attack where BTS given a “BLACK OCEAN” twice in two separate events GDA 2016 and MMA 2016, a practice whereby fans of other groups turn off their light sticks during “rival” group’s performance as a show of “disapproval”. Despite ARMY’s efforts to counter the hate, it’s continued for years afterward.

#BTSARMYHistory

I want to add this excerpt from BEYOND THE STORY referencing these events:

“[…] BTS were viewed as the “villains” of the idol industry, and attacks on the group continued. When the album WINGS was released in October 2016, for example, the hashtag #/BREAKWINGS spread all over social media abroad. Though it didn’t have all that much influence, it does demonstrate that by around this time, the public attacks on BTS had reached the international stage. Use of abusive language, for the simple fact of not liking how the members looked, became something that was “okay to do,” almost like a trend, and people taking the members’ past words or actions completely out of context and saying “Die” would be retweeted and shared like it was nothing.

Following the cyberbullying directed at BTS, cyberbullying of idols within the fandom stuck around almost like an institution. Sensationally worded documents were uploaded to social media and the online community, and people who agreed with the claims propagated them; without the opportunity to confirm their veracity, they became truth and spread. In response, the fandoms of the idols in question came forward and used various methods to explain and minimize the damage.

This is why the term “checks” is commonly used within the idol fandom community in Korea. When a particular idol begins to become popular or experiences a comeback, anti-fans perform checks, meaning they use various reasons to criticize the idol or foster an atmosphere in which it’s okay to do so. If there really is no way of performing these checks, they resort to bringing back up things that were already laid to bed years ago, doing what is called “BUMP” (Bring Up My Post), and trying to muster up negative press. These actions create a situation in which idols are essentially unable to step a foot out of place, and the tiniest mistake makes it okay for people to criticize them however they please.

The cyberbullying of BTS foreshadowed the changes brought to the Korean idol industry by the advent of social media, as well as the personality of the idol fandom. Cyberbulling that took place either out of random hatred for an idol or for the purpose of carrying out checks, began to occur far more frequently among the consumers of idol music than in the past.”

Source: 20230709 Beyond The Story
Ch.3 LOVE, HATE, ARMY

#BTSARMYHistory

It was a tough time for ARMY too, the fact that the guys would subtweet subtle messages of encouragement to ARMY on Twitter so that we could keep our heads up and keep walking despite the vitriol being slung from every direction.

We witnessed our boys facing unwarranted hate and baseless accusations. Let's not forget the pain they went through and continue to support them with love and positivity.

BTS has come a long way since then, but the scars from that time remain. Let's always stand by them, no matter what challenges come our way.💜

#BTSARMYHistory

Adding >>> The WINGS TOUR: THE FINAL VCR

My post talking about 둘! 셋! (그래도 좋은 날이 더 많기를) 2! 3! (Still wishing there will be more good days)

Adding Important >>>

This is the translation of the insults that BTS included in their WINGS: THE FINAL concert VCR.