Admiration for senior artists has become one of the key forces shaping the next generation of K-pop idols. It is no secret that many fourth- and fifth-generation idols started out as devoted fans of first-, second-, and third-generation acts. Watching their seniors achieve extraordinary success inspired them to work tirelessly, all while dreaming of one day standing under the same spotlight themselves.
Among the most influential senior acts, BTS consistently ranks at the very top. Numerous rookie artists have openly credited the group for inspiring them to pursue careers in music and entertainment. CORTIS' Martin once shared, “As a fan who grew up watching BTS's performances since he was a child, the first time I saw their concerts was at Jamsil Stadium. While watching the stage at that time, I first dreamed of ‘I want to be on that stage, too.’” Meanwhile, both LE SSERAFIM's Huh Yunjin and the members of VICTON have admitted that BTS' prestigious achievements and award wins in the United States gave them powerful motivation to continue chasing their own dreams.
Recently, the list of idols influenced by BTS has grown even longer, as members of Hearts2Hearts—one of the most notable rookie girl groups of 2025—have also revealed themselves to be longtime fans of the global superstars!
During their latest appearance on REACT, one of YouTube's most popular reaction series, the members surprised viewers by sharing several interesting stories. The most attention-grabbing moment came when the host asked: “BTS' fandom name is ARMY. What does the name ARMY stand for?”. Without hesitation, Carmen confidently replied, “Oh, I was an ARMY, so I know this!” before correctly answering, “Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.”
Her response immediately caught fans' attention, as knowing the full meaning behind ARMY is often αѕѕociated with longtime fans who have followed BTS for years. Many viewers took it as further proof that Carmen has been supporting the group since their earlier days and is, in every sense of the word, a genuine ARMY.
Carmen later went on to confirm that she used to be an ARMY and further clarified that she still considers herself part of the BTS fandom today. The Hearts2Hearts members immediately applauded her, while the host enthusiastically exchanged a high-five with her and revealed that he was an ARMY as well.
Of course, when two ARMYs meet, there is one question that is almost impossible to avoid: “Who's your bias?” However, instead of giving a direct answer, Carmen made everyone laugh with a playful response: “Secret.” Although she chose not to reveal her favorite BTS member, her cheeky answer delighted fans and quickly sparked lively discussions across social media.
Meanwhile, another Hearts2Hearts member has long been known among fans as an ARMY—Ian. At one point, she became a hot topic online after netizens discovered a childhood photo of her holding a phone decorated with a Jungkook PopSocket from the “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA” era. The detail seemingly confirmed that Ian had been a dedicated fan of the “Golden Maknae” long before entering the entertainment industry—more specifically, even before joining SM Entertainment in 2022.
The discoveries did not stop there. Fans also took notice of her stage name, “Ian.” Coincidentally, Jungkook has mentioned on multiple occasions that “Ian” was once considered as a potential stage name before his debut. The reason behind it was his admiration for Ian Anthony Eastwood, the renowned αмєяι¢αn dancer and choreographer whom he looked up to for years. Interestingly, Eastwood later went on to collaborate with Jungkook on “Standing Next to You.”
This detail led many ARMYs to jokingly speculate that Hearts2Hearts' Ian may have been inspired by Jungkook's almost-used stage name. In reality, however, her stage name simply comes from her real name, Lee An, making the connection nothing more than a fun coincidence. Even so, many fans still believe that, as a longtime Jungkook fan, the name may hold a special significance for her beyond its obvious origin.
Ultimately, fans were delighted to see new-generation idols such as Carmen and Ian openly embracing their identities as ARMYs, further highlighting BTS' lasting influence on today's rising stars. Following the revelations, fans shared enthusiastic reactions such as: "My girls are also army oh God", "Carmen is being so real honestly. Seeing the conflict between these agencies lmao, she’s so brave", "The way she says "secret" is so cute", "Carmen and Ian are certified veterans", "i'm not even surprised to find army as a new-gen idol", "All them cute girls are armys", "Everyone got purple вℓσσ∂",...
