“Not a laughing matter”: Fans divided after BTS’ Jin playfully tosses Jungkook onto sofa during New Year’s eve live

All 7 members of BTS celebrated the arrival of the New Year by appearing live on Weverse from leader RM’s house, shortly before midnight in South Korea on December 31, 2025. The group spent the time chatting casually, joking with one another, and eventually counting down to the New Year with fans. However, one brief interaction from the broadcast quickly spread across social media, sparking divided reactions among fans.

During the live broadcast, the members were seated on the sofa at RM’s home, interacting playfully. At one point, Jungkook was standing behind the couch.

Noticing this, the other members repeatedly asked him to come and sit in front. Jungkook refused and j-hope went around the couch in an attempt to pull him forward, but was unsuccessful.

Following this, Jin quietly moved behind Jungkook. Without the youngest member noticing, Jin lifted him by his legs and playfully rolled him over the backrest and onto the sofa. Jungkook landed headfirst on the couch and Jimin immediately held Jungkook’s head to ensure he landed safely.

The moment was followed by loud laughter from all the members, including Jungkook himself. While laughing, the group asked Jungkook if he was okay and not hurt. He responded by nodding and smiling. Though RM complained that he had bought the sofa less than a month ago, the others continued laughing about the situation.

j-hope and Taehyung expressed surprise that Jin was able to lift Jungkook and flip him over the sofa. Jin responded that he had raised Jungkook since he was young and used to carry him on his back often to which Jungkook agreed.

After the live ended, the clip quickly went viral on social media platforms, particularly X. Many fans finding the interaction amusing, shared and reshared the moment, describing it as a typical example of BTS’ playful energy. Treating it as a light-hearted joke they highlighted dynamic between Jin and Jungkook.

However, the clip also drew criticism. Some raised concerns about safety, pointing out that Jungkook landed headfirst and that his head appeared to be only a few inches away from the edge of the sofa.

They argued that the situation could have become dangerous if he had landed differently or missed the sofa entirely. Viewing it as a potentially risky situation one netizen commented,

“Anyone in his right mind knows that isn’t funny. It’s dangerous. Not a laughing matter. Only idiots will laugh about it.”

Many expressed discomfort and criticized Jin’s action, stating that Jungkook could have been injured due to the way he landed on his neck and head.

Fans noted that while Jin likely had no intention of hurting Jungkook, the moment could have turned risky, expressing concerns over safety.

Some fans came to Jin’s defense, pointing out that he immediately checked on Jungkook once he sat up, asking if he was okay. They also noted that Jungkook was laughing along, did not appear injured nor indicated that he was hurt.

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BTS ring in 2026 with Weverse live, share comeback hopes and confirm March album release

BTS members Jin, Suga, j-hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook joined the live approximately 12 minutes before the New Year in South Korea and spent the final moments of the year with fans. The broadcast lasted 12 minutes and 50 seconds, culminating in a full-group celebration as the clock turned to January 1, 2026.

During the live, the group interacted with fans while reflecting briefly on the past year and sharing their hopes for the year ahead. They expressed,

"I hope we can make a safe comeback this year and have a successful album. Let's make BTS a huge hit."

BTS during the live (Image via Weverse/BTS)

As the clock approached 12, the members began counting down together. When midnight struck, they cheered, wished everyone a Happy New Year and thanked ARMY for their continued support. They shared greetings in both Korean and English wishing ARMYs luck.

The group has since confirmed a comeback scheduled for March 20, 2026. This will mark BTS’ first full-length album release in nearly 3 years and 9 months, following their anthology album Proof, which has released in June 2022.

The comeback date was initially revealed through handwritten letters sent by BTS to ARMY ahead of the New Year. Along with messages of gratitude for fans’ unwavering support, the letters included the handwritten date '2026.03.20', hinting at the upcoming release.

In addition to the album, BTS is also expected to launch a large-scale world tour. Reports suggest the tour could begin in May 2026 and continue through December, with approximately 65 shows planned across major cities worldwide.

Edited by Adrija Chakraborty