{
  "id": 13316407,
  "title": "How BTS protects ARMY, and ARMY protects BTS: The purple shield of 13 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/how-bts-protects-army-and-army-protects-bts-the-purple-shield-of-13",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-10T03:28:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/how-bts-protects-army-and-army-protects-bts-the-purple-shield-of-13-years-1.500705305"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BTS and ARMY have a unique relationship that has evolved over thirteen years. During their Carpool Karaoke with James Corden, ARMY fans created the \"Papa Mochi\" title, which BTS members embraced. However, when Corden joked about BTS being unusual visitors at the UN in 2021, it offended ARMY who pointed out that BTS had visited the UN in 2018 to launch their Love Myself campaign with UNICEF. Fans of all ages, genders, and backgrounds protested the joke, and RM revoked the Papa Mochi title.\n\nTwo years later, BTS made their first visit to Peru as part of the ARIRANG world tour. Local ARMY fans gathered outside the hotel, creating a shield of protection for the band. However, the members and staff were exhausted by the crowds, and RM asked fans not to wait outside the hotel. When people ignored the guidelines, local ARMY fans publicly criticized them, emphasizing that the hotel crowd was not the organized fandom. ARMY appreciated BTS's support during the Lima tour, and the bond between the band and their fans continues to grow stronger.",
  "summary": "Real ones would never forget that James Corden episode. You just had to be there. Well, James Corden had the best seat in the house. BTS did Carpool Karaoke with him. They played hide-and-seek around his studio. Jimin was his Baby Mochi, which made Corden \"Papa Mochi,\" a title ARMY bestowed with genuine affection. Then came September 2021. BTS had just appeared at the United Nations General…",
  "key_points": [
    "BTS and ARMY have 13-year unique relationship",
    "ARMY fans protested Papa Mochi title after UN joke",
    "Local Peruvian ARMY fans criticized crowd outside hotel"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The protective dynamic between BTS and their fans, ARMY, has matured over 13 years, with each side shielding the other from perceived threats and discouraging behaviour that could harm the other.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}