BTS’s RM Faces Harmful Racism Amid Conflict Between Korean And Southeast Asian Netizens
BTS’s RM is facing a wave of racist hate amid a heated feud between Korean and Southeast Asian netizens.
The controversy started over arguments about concert etiquette. It began when a Korean fan was criticized for bringing a big camera into a DAY6 concert in Malaysia. That sparked an online clash between Korean netizens and those from SEA countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
RM got caught in the crossfire. Photos of him edited in blackface started being used in nasty online attacks.
Tweet from RM’s Moonchildren explains:
Namjoon has become the victim of a toxic and racist online feud between Korean netizens and netizens from Southeast Asia (SEA) (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc.).
How it…
— RM’s Moonchildren (Feb 16, 2026)
Fans are now calling out the racism RM is facing — noting this has nothing to do with him. Some are even worried for his safety, urging him to skip countries where hate is high.
the amount of racism joon has been subjected in the last 2 days over absolutely no relation to whatever race war is happening is just insane; its inhumane and disgusting what they’re doing to him, and all of kpop twt is rting those posts; I NEVER want to hear them preach morals
— 𝐽 ⋆ ⊙⊝⊜ (Feb 14, 2026)
that stupid war between sk and sea has given those fckers a free reign to use Joon for their drags and I knew kpop stans were going to use that opportunity to be racist towards him
— kemi⊙⊝⊜ Arirang (Feb 15, 2026)
the hate against namjoon is not even normal anymore. y’all dragging him for nothing like he isn’t even problematic it’s just baseless accusations. y’all make fun of how he looks and act and is racist and xenophobic every other day. it has a limit, i just hope he don’t see these.
— ً (Feb 16, 2026)
I hope joon skips Indonesia during tour locals in that country are fucking racist and violent atp they might physically harm him
— yun_7 20/03 (Feb 15, 2026)
free namjoon from Indonesian kpop stans
free namjoon from Indonesian kpop stans
free namjoon from Indonesian kpop stans
free namjoon from Indonesian kpop stans
free namjoon from Indonesian kpop stans
— ari ᥫ᭡ (Feb 15, 2026)
Calls to report racist posts have also been shared widely.
Report this racist
Report their main twt under
Dehumanization, hate, harassment https://t.co/M9CICW6ZeB https://t.co/nDfr8Pdxvn
from Chrome
login the acc https://t.co/OiV38rLqnK
— RkiveProtect (Feb 15, 2026)
Some Twitter users are even pushing hashtags and protests against BTS concerts in Indonesia.
Let’s go #StopBTSIndonesiaConcert #SafetyForBTS #DemandCancelBTSConcert #CancelBTSIndonesia #NoBTSConcertIndonesia https://t.co/jCDfXAeW6n
— Powder (Feb 15, 2026)
The situation shows no signs of calming. RM remains an innocent target caught in a bitter online feud between fans from different countries.
BTS’s RM | GQ Magazine
Watch BTS RM in action
Monitoring the situation as RM deals with this racist backlash unrelated to him directly.