Min SUGA. Genius. These Two Words Should Be Enough for #MinMarch!
Not long after j-hope’s birthday bash in February, March greeted us with another celebration: our “MINstradamus’” birthday! As this month marked a year since the pandemic struck, let’s remember SUGA’s words during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” graduation special: “This might not be the grand finale that you had imagined, and a fresh start might seem far away. But I wish to tell you: Please, don’t be afraid, don’t worry yourself.” So dust your knees and chin up ARMY, we have a whole party to join! 출발~
Ads on the ground, ads in the sky
An idol’s birthday is never complete without birthday ads! Numerous ads were seen all over the world, on social media, from subway stations, highway billboards, to the most extravagant hot-air balloons flying all the way up to the sky. Seoul, Manila, New York, Jakarta, Pindi, and Lagos were only a few of the many cities where ads were displayed.
Billboard ads in Times Square by Baidu SUGA Bar
Picture from @Mochi_1995 on Twitter
Billboard ads in Manila by @PhAllforyoongi on Twitter
SUGA’s 28th (international) birthday set a handful of records. He was the first K-pop artist to appear on a billboard on 42nd and 8th in Times Square, New York City, the first Korean celebrity to receive the largest Hot Air Balloon Support at Seoul Marina Club and Yacht, and the first Korean artist to have full spread birthday ads in five leading South Korean Magazines: Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, GQ, and Vogue. Most of these ads were provided by a large China fanbase for SUGA, Baidu_suga_bar. Aside from birthday ads, their project also included reading fan messages through radio, food donations, and organizing the largest outdoor birthday exhibition for Korean artists called “GENIUS LAB” in Hongdae Main Street, in Seoul. At this rate, it’s BTS’s World and we’re just living in it!
Hot-Air Balloon Support by Baidu_suga_bar
Picture from @kook_tete_lover on Twitter
“GENIUS LAB” by Baidu_suga_bar
Picture from @Amellody4SUGA on Twitter
Charity begins at home, but should not end there
Following BTS’s footsteps as well-known philanthropists, donations for a member’s birthday is a common thing to do for ARMY. To celebrate SUGA’s day, @OneInAnARMY held a charity called “#KUMFAWithYoongi” to help the Korean Unwed Mothers’ Families Association, a non-profit organization which supports unwed mothers from discrimination.
#KUMFAWithYoongi project by One In An ARMY
Pakistan ARMYs also organized a blood donation drive in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Meanwhile, Italian ARMYs joined the movement by doing an amazing charity project called “#BTSxLegambiente” to help fight climate change. Indonesian ARMYs simultaneously arranged two birthday donations for SUGA. “#SeaSUGA” - a Coral Reef transplantation under the name of SUGA and ARMY located in Maluku, Indonesia - donated more than 100 reefs, and 10% from the reef donation went to a local marine school. The second one called “Sapphire Blue project” provided money donations and goods to a cancer foundation for children.
Other projects
Besides ads, cupsleeve or cup-holder events are another popular way to celebrate idols’ birthdays. Despite few limitations in running an offline event, ARMYs still had a lot of fun! Seoul, New York City, Butuan City, Quezon City, Jakarta, etc. hosted birthday cafe events for SUGA.
Picture from @Purple7Cafe on Twitter
Several other simple but fun projects took over Twitter, Weverse, and YouTube as well, such as streaming SUGA’s solo works, matching Twitter layouts, and “thank you” video projects. In result, Daechwita by AGUST D reached #1 on US iTunes for the first time. What a perfect gift!
Happy Birthday, “Tangerine Cat!”
As usual, BTS’s official Twitter account posted a birthday greeting with cute hashtags like “#슈노우맨” (SuNowMan―abbreviation of SUGA Snowman) and “#귤애옹” (Tangerine Cat). The other BTS members immediately joined with Jin being the first to congratulate his ex-roommate (he had even posted his birthday wishes for SUGA on Weverse back in December!). RM quickly followed with two photos of him and SUGA wearing matching knit sweaters and cardigans like twins. #HopeFilm by j-hope, and Jungkook also released multiple unseen photos and videos of their hyung. Lastly, V and Jimin both posted a sleeping SUGA picture, claiming he looks cool even when he’s asleep.
SUGA wrapped up his birthday bash by tweeting his gratitude and going live on VLive, only to be interrupted briefly (and cutely) by Jungkook. He thanked everyone who celebrated with him, convinced ARMY that his arm rehabilitation is going well, and confirmed that he will also be watching the Grammys’ ceremony (with BTS performing in it, of course!). We can’t wait to see him on stage again!
A birthday is a special day, and it’s fascinating to see how ARMY made this day even more special for SUGA by sharing happiness and kindness with people who needed it the most. We expect nothing but more bizarre (and meaningful) birthday events from ARMY in the future! Until then, stay safe and wear your mask! 보라해~
Written by: Avi
Edited by: Dae
Designed by: Leslie
ARMY Magazine does not own any of the photos/videos shared in our blog. No copyright infringement intended.