Did SEVENTEEN's Hoshi just shade BTS? ARMY and Carats clash over his Instagram activity

Back in 2019, BTS were at the height of their global dominance, sweeping awards left and right - almost effortlessly. But despite their reign, competition within the K-pop world remained fierce, and not every fan was thrilled with the results. Fast forward to today, a new fanwar has erupted over the 'Best Dance Performance - Male Group' award from the 2019 MAMA Awards, which BTS won for their smash hit Boy With Luv featuring Halsey.

SEVENTEEN, who were also nominated that year for their powerful track Fear, had their fans - Carats - feeling their group was unfairly "robbed" of the title. Tensions have now resurfaced after an Instagram post revisiting the debate went viral. What ignited the flames further? SEVENTEEN's Hoshi, leader of the group's performance team, liked the post - sparking a fresh clash between ARMY and Carats across social media.


Hoshi recently liked a video post that read: "Never forget SVT's performance 'Hit' at the 2019 MAMA, right after they lost the 'Best Dance Performance' award." On the surface, it looked like a nostalgic nod to his group's performance - but the comments underneath the post told a different story.

Carats were seen claiming BTS didn't deserve the win that year, suggesting they only won because of their popularity. That, paired with Hoshi's like added fuel to the fire.

A screenshot of Hoshi's like was shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), with one viral post reading, "He's about to enlist so he just doesn't gaf anymore," racking up over 22,000 likes. The drama had officially begun - especially since many ARMYs hadn't even seen the original video until the screenshot started spreading.



It's all speculation, but ARMY believe Hoshi's like may have been a subtle jab at BTS, especially given the years-long debate over the 2019 award. Carats, however, insist it was innocent. Some said he may have simply appreciated his group's performance, while others pointed out the caption was in English - implying he might not have understood the post's tone or the fan commentary that followed.


Still, ARMYs pushed back, saying even if Hoshi didn't intend to start anything, the tone of the post - and especially the comments beneath it -clearly suggested that BTS didn't deserve the win. That was enough to reopen old wounds.



Soon, the situation spiraled. As the screenshots went viral, the original Instagram post and the X tweet were both deleted - possibly an attempt to cool the fire.

But the damage was already done. What started as a like turned into a full-on fanwar, with Hoshi caught in the middle. Whether it was a genuine mistake or quiet shade remains unknown - but speculation have been running wild, and K-pop Twitter is once again divided. Both sides have shared their own narrative with ARMY being loud on why Boy With Luv deserved the award and won it on merit.




While all seven BTS members - Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook - have completed their mandatory military service and were discharged by July 2025, SEVENTEEN is still in the process of enlisting, with members serving one by one.

The group's leader and eldest member, S.Coups, has been officially exempted from military duty due to health reasons. Jeonghan was the first among SEVENTEEN to enlist, beginning his service on September 26, 2024. Wonwoo followed on April 3, 2025.

Up next are Hoshi and Woozi, who are both scheduled to begin their service in September 2025. Woozi will enlist on September 15, followed by Hoshi on September 16. Before heading off, the duo will take part in their final official activities, including a fan concert and a video call fan signing event to bid farewell to fans.

As for the rest of the group, Joshua is exempt from military service due to his U.S. citizenship, while Jun and The8 are also not required to enlist, as they hold Chinese citizenship.

DK is expected to enlist before turning 30 on February 18, 2027. Mingyu must do so by April 6, 2027, while Seungkwan's deadline falls before his 30th birthday on January 16, 2028. Dino, the youngest Korean member, must enlist by February 11, 2029.

Vernon, though born in the United States, holds dual citizenship including South Korean nationality, which requires him to serve. He must enlist by February 18, 2028, before he turns 30.


For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.