At present, the HYBE Labels system manages numerous active idol groups through its various subsidiaries and sub-labels. Specifically, if we only count K-pop idol groups that are currently active, there are approximately ten groups. In addition to BTS, notable examples include SEVENTEEN, TXT, ENHYPEN, CORTIS, KATSEYE, and LE SSERAFIM, among others.
Because they all belong to the same umbrella label, it is not difficult to see that BTS members have close relationships with members of these groups. j-hope collaborated with LE SSERAFIM on the track Spaghetti and also filmed a video to support CORTIS. Jin and TXT’s Beomgyu are well known for their close friendship, to the point that Beomgyu frequently visits Jin’s home. Jungkook and SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu are long-time close friends as part of the famous 97-line, and so on.
In particular, BTS are widely known as idols with friendly and kind personalities. Even as top-tier global superstars, they remain humble and treat everyone around them with sincerity. Therefore, it seems rather unusual that stars in the entertainment industry—or even fellow HYBE artists—would find it difficult to approach them.
However, in reality, many artists have honestly admitted that feeling comfortable around BTS members is not an easy thing. SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi is one of the HYBE idols who openly acknowledged this, even directly in front of SUGA. When Hoshi appeared on SUCHWITA for the first time, he was unable to hide his nervousness.
Although SUGA later tried to ease the awkward atmosphere by reαѕѕuring him, saying, “You can just talk comfortably. You don’t have to be so formal with me", Hoshi still remained cautious in his use of polite language. Not only that, he also confessed that although he really wanted to sit down and talk with SUGA, he did not dare to do so.
Noticing Hoshi’s hesitation, SUGA encouraged him by saying, “You could’ve just come up and talked to me”, as Hoshi had no real reason not to. However, the issue did not lie with SUGA or with BTS’s personalities, but rather with the fact that Hoshi—and many others—felt intimidated when standing in front of a superstar like BTS. Even SUGA himself later agreed, admitting that he had also found it difficult to approach senior artists in the past. His conversation with BIGBANG’s Taeyang on SUCHWITA was one such example.
Still, SUGA reαѕѕured Hoshi by saying, “We’re not that difficult", Hoshi honestly replied, “You are, though,” and despite the fact that BTS and SEVENTEEN debuted only two years apart, he added, “You were hard to get close to…". Considering the difference in seniority, it is not surprising that Hoshi was extremely polite toward SUGA. And in terms of achievements within the entertainment industry, BTS are regarded as “legends.” Hierarchy—including seniority and social status—is a very strict and important concept in кσяєαn culture.
Although Hoshi and SUGA belong to the same HYBE label, share an interest in music production, have several points of connection, and despite Hoshi having admired SUGA for a long time, these barriers meant that it was only through filming SUCHWITA together that Hoshi finally had the opportunity to talk more comfortably with the senior artist he admired. Sometimes, the distance between two artists may not be far, yet unspoken barriers can easily push them apart.
After hearing Hoshi’s explanation, SUGA realized that things needed to change and continued to reαѕѕure him, saying, “We can get close starting today!” From that moment on, SUGA and Hoshi were able to sit down and talk more comfortably. The two later even went to SUGA’s studio together to make music and share more personal conversations.
Meanwhile, this story also brings to mind Jin’s past confession on a variety show, where he openly admitted that the number of celebrities he regularly keeps in touch with is extremely small. He said, "If you look at the contact list on my phone, I have less than 10 celebrity friends".
According to Jin, people often feel hesitant or deliberately avoid approaching him and the other BTS members because they feel pressured by the group’s overwhelming fame. "Most people don't want to be friends with us because they feel pressured," Jin honestly shared. Notably, this sentiment is not unique to him alone, as RM and SUGA had previously admitted to experiencing similar loneliness at the peak of success.
BTS are fully aware that their immense fame can be an obstacle when it comes to forming close friendships with others, but that has never stopped them from building genuine bonds with fellow idols. Through their proactive openness, the BTS members have broken down the walls of hesitation between themselves and other celebrities. And as we can see, BTS members have many friends both within HYBE and beyond—friendships that are widely loved and admired by the public.
