The name ARMY is an acronym for "Adorable Representative M.C for Youth," but "adorable" isn't a word you'd use to describe the rivalry that BTS fans have with the EXO-Ls, fans of EXO. EXO, a nine-piece idol group, was dubbed "the biggest boy band in the world" by Dazed back in 2016, when it seemed poised to become the first K-pop act to make it big in the States. BTS would win that race, igniting a fan war that has been known to get pretty nasty.
Accusations of plagiarism and "sajaegi" (when a band's agency buys records in bulk to manipulate the charts) have been made by EXO-Ls, and idols put themselves at risk of being drawn into the beef if they dare comment on the BTS-EXO debate. When former U-KISS member Alexander simply mentioned BTS during a tweet about the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Closing Ceremony, a firestorm of fan hate followed, forcing the singer to plead for a truce.
Big Hit may even be keen to call a ceasefire, as one fan was shocked to find a picture of EXO member Chanyeol slotted inside her brand new BTS album, which may have been a stunt intended to bring the warring factions closer together.
BTS fandom is far from toxic, however. ARMY has been known to mobilize in huge numbers whenever the boys issue a rallying cry, with BTS fans often making sizable donations to charities and worthy causes in the band's name.
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