Today, September 1st, marks the birthday of BTS’s golden maknae, Jeon Jung Kook, who has officially turned 28. As expected, the day has been flooded with love from fans all around the world. ARMYs have trended countless hashtags in his honor, with millions of posts filled with fan art, edits, videos, and heartfelt letters dedicated to the youngest member of BTS. But among all the trending phrases, two particular keywords stood out, “Suga Hyung” and “ItsSUGAHyung.”
At first glance, those unfamiliar with BTS’s long-running traditions might wonder what those words have to do with Jung Kook’s birthday. But for ARMY, the answer is rooted in one of BTS’s oldest and most beloved habits: posting birthday wishes for each other on social media.
“This really looks like a bicycle commercial #HappyBirthdayKookie #ItsSugaHyung Your_20th_Birthday_Picture_Should_Be_A_Cool_One” (2016)
Back in the earlier years of BTS, the members consistently used their official group Twitter account to wish one another a happy birthday. The tweets were short, playful, and sometimes teasing, but they always carried a personal touch that fans treasured. For ARMY, seeing how the members celebrated each other’s special days gave insight into their genuine bond as brothers and bandmates. It became a yearly tradition that fans looked forward to almost as much as the birthdays themselves.
“Happy Birthday Jjay hope #IamSugaHyung #ItwasDifficultToFindOldPhoneToGettheOldPhoto #thisPhotoLooksCool #andIamHungry” (2018)
Among all the birthday messages, one member’s posts always stood out, SUGA’s. Known for his dry humor and sometimes minimalistic expressions of affection, SUGA developed a clever way to make sure fans knew when it was really him behind the post. He would add the tag #ItsSUGAHyung at the end of his birthday tweets. The phrase became iconic, something ARMY instantly recognized and loved. It was his signature stamp, quiet yet full of meaning. Over the years, it turned into more than just a hashtag; it became a symbol of the way SUGA showed his love for the younger members without needing to say too much.
“15 years old Jungkook becomes 25years old Jungkook now Happy birthday JK~ #JungkookHBD #ItsSugahyung #YouAreAnAdult #TimeIsHu“– (2021)
However, the tradition began to shift when BTS opened their individual Instagram accounts in December 2021. Since then, the group’s official Twitter account has been left mostly inactive, collecting what fans jokingly describe as “digital cobwebs.” Instead of the playful chaos of their joint account, updates about the members have gradually been shared through other official channels, like Weverse, HYBE announcements, and Instagram posts. Twitter was no longer the central space for birthday greetings or casual updates.
The silence became even more pronounced during the period of military enlistments. One by one, the members began fulfilling their mandatory service, and social media interactions among them naturally slowed down. Aside from official notices about enlistments or discharges, there were no playful birthday tweets, the Instagram birthday posts continued, and certainly no #ItsSUGAHyung hashtags to light up ARMY timelines.
The last time SUGA used the phrase was in 2022 when he wished Jimin a happy birthday. For fans, that moment was bittersweet. It was warm, familiar, and nostalgic, but also marked the end of an era, for a while at least, though ARMY didn’t know that by then. With SUGA enlisting in September 2023, there were no more posts of his signature birthday greetings.
“happy birthday jwaman youll spend your birthday week in busan i see hahahahahahaa hapbirth! #ItsSugaHyung #HappyBirthday #HappyBirthdayJimin #HappyJiminDay” (2022)
Now, in 2025, with all seven members officially discharged and reunited, ARMY have been eagerly anticipating a revival of their old traditions. Jung Kook’s birthday this year feels especially significant, it is the first one celebrated since BTS completed their enlistments. The trending of “Suga Hyung” and “ItsSUGAHyung” is ARMY’s way of both remembering and manifesting that cherished tradition. Fans are essentially saying, “We miss this. We hope to see it again.”
For ARMY, it’s not about whether SUGA actually posts today or not, it’s about celebrating the bonds that have always made BTS more than just a group. It’s about nostalgia, about the warmth of knowing these small but meaningful traditions existed, and about the anticipation of what might come now that BTS are back together.
So while Jung Kook enjoys his birthday surrounded by love from fans worldwide, part of the celebration this year also belongs to that familiar phrase, #ItsSUGAHyung, a reminder of the quiet yet powerful ways the members have always looked after each other. For ARMY, it feels like a piece of BTS history making its way back into the present
This year, as expected, the internet has been buzzing since midnight KST with hashtags, fan projects, and heartfelt tributes dedicated to him. Two of the phrases trending widely are “Suga Hyung” and “ItsSUGAHyung,” a playful nod to the sibling-like bond Jung Kook shares with BTS’ oldest rapper, Min Yoongi (Suga). The two have always had a special dynamic, with Yoongi’s calm, understated nature often balancing Jung Kook’s playful and sometimes mischievous energy. Seeing those phrases trend on Jung Kook’s birthday is proof not only to how much fans cherish him, but also to the way BTS’ members’ relationships remain at the heart of everything.
I’m sure all members have wished Jung Kook a happy birthday, as they always do in their private group chats. V even shared a clip of him and Jung Kook out having a meal so they must be all together since they came back from the US.
Back in 2024, someone even made a compilation of SUGA’s #ItsSUGAHyung birthday tweets for Jimin from 2013 -2022.
Unfortunately, we have not had a new 2025 #ItsSUGAHyung tweet, so here are some hilarious ARMY tweets of not having that legendary #ItsSUGAHyung tweet for Jung Kook’s birthday.
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