If you’ve recently visited X or Threads, you’ve likely witnessed the escalating online clash between Southeast Asian users, affectionately known as “SEAblings,” and кσяєαn netizens. The chaos was sparked by reports that кσяєαn fansites had secretly brought large professional cameras and lenses into DAY6’s concert in Malaysia, despite the organizer’s rules prohibiting any cameras or recording equipment.
While local fans argued that кσяєαn fansites were being favored and were disrespecting the host country’s regulations, some кσяєαn netizens defended the fansites and criticized Malaysian fans for overreacting. Disparaging or discriminatory comments made by a portion of кσяєαn netizens toward Southeast Asian fans triggered a strong backlash from the SEA fan community, who argued that they are a major consumer market yet are not treated with respect.
The incident soon spilled beyond the realm of K-pop, evolving into cross-domain attacks. кσяєαn commenters targeted Southeast Asians’ appearance, culture, and economic status, while Southeast Asian social media users retaliated by criticizing social issues in South кσяєα, including high suicide rates, declining birth rates, and the prevalence of cosmetic surgery.
Even кσяєαn artists—global idols—were inadvertently dragged into the conflict by some extremist fans. BTS members, particularly RM, became targets of intense hostility amid clashes between кσяєαn and international fans, to the extent that the group’s concert schedule in Indonesia this December became a heated topic of debate.
As tensions escalated, some BTS fans began calling for the group to skip the Indonesia tour stop altogether. Viral posts claimed the members had been unfairly targeted and argued that the group should not perform in a country where they felt hostility was being expressed. Some fans even voiced concerns about the members’ safety and criticized what they perceived as attempts to exploit BTS’s popularity for political or promotional purposes.
The opinions of these fans are:
- I hope joon skips Indonesia during tour locals in that country are fυ¢кing яα¢ιѕт and violent atp they might physically harm him
- feeling sorry for indonesian armys but i have never seen people from a country being this deranged
- I really hope bts cancels their concert in indonesia cuz its getting ridiculous from jobless locals/kpop stans harαѕѕing and targeting them unprovoked to their sh1tty gov wanting to use them? free them tf
- Indonesians have been waging a яα¢ιѕт war against Namjoon for MONTHS not the кσяєαn vs SEA Twitter war, but months ago They literally dragged him just for his looks??? Then they moved on to Tae, calling him every name in the book over a brand deal then they targeted jungkook. Accounts like reesanarin and her group were behind a smear campaign back in November just because of rumors! And now they’re back at Namjoon again.. BTS literally NEEDS to cancel all promotions there
- free bts from indo government & locals god please
However, other ARMYs quickly pushed back against these calls. Many argued that local fans were not responsible for online harαѕѕment and pointed out that BTS has faced ŕäċïṩṃ in other countries without any demands to cancel tour stops. They emphasized that the problem lies in attitudes and meaningless social media disputes, and that concerts and artists should not be affected by such online conflicts.
Opinions circulating on social media regarding this issue include:
- Don't say soмєтнing like this. This hurts Indonesian armys too. You don't know how tired we are with these people. We've tried to report and block these people but they keep coming back.
- I don't thibk indonesian armys are at fault for that??? The US media has been яα¢ιѕт towards them for years and i don't see people asking them to no tour there
- There is no reason to deprave innocent Indonesian fans from the opportunity to simple concerts (whether it be BTS or whatnot). Doing such is similar to the harαѕѕment of innocent кσяєαn influencers. Innocents should never bear the brunt of others’ conflicts.
- you say this as if indo army doesn't mean anything to them... bts hasn't been visiting indo for ab 9 years... and u ask them to cancel bcs some fυ¢кαѕѕ people mean to them?.. it's so sad being indomy and we got nothing other than bad naration from inter army
- They come and perform for Army, not for locals and other kpop stans let alone haters. And don't worry, our sh1tty gov is just talking nonsense with their brainless head. Nothing will happen because BTS' schedule is packed and our turn is close to the new year.
- What kind of logic is that??? This isn’t Indonesia’s fault. Please, we’re also exhausted defending Joon from stressed people every day. We’re already stressed with the government, and now stressed again with unemployed citizens
