Did BTS’s RM Really Call Jin “Daddy?”
BTS‘s Jin has officially returned after fulfilling his mandatory military service.
As ARMYs celebrated Jin’s discharge, many trended hashtags related to the idol, including “DADDY’S HOME.” This comes from K-Pop fans using Usher‘s 2010 song “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” in edits of their biases returning from their military service.
DADDY”S HOME, HOME FOR MEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/W9J1d8qOIq
— lilyane៹⁷ ᵕ̈ 🐝 (@thvjkcut) June 12, 2024
daddy's home belongs to kim seokjin and kim seokjin only sorry I don't make the rules pic.twitter.com/CyGaa8IFN9
— drew⁷ (@freakumvirgos) June 11, 2024
DADDY'S HOME is trending 😭😭
Jin @BTS_twt 🔥💜 pic.twitter.com/L3V3C8espY— . 2025 🔜 (@InTheChart) June 11, 2024
Now, ARMYs are wondering if RM is aware of this inside joke.
RM went viral for his appearance at Jin’s discharge, as he, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook went to greet the eldest BTS member. While the members appeared emotional, reuniting with Jin, RM unexpectedly played “Dynamite” on a saxophone.
삐리리리릴리 pic.twitter.com/ToVtXpVgMP
— 우렁찬꾸꾸진🐹💖🐰 (@runamayG) June 12, 2024
me: the ceremony will probably be so emotional and sentimental
namjoon with his bad guy: pic.twitter.com/cRUFX5DwhS
— ⁷ (@yoongipd) June 12, 2024
Seokjin: ARMY ANNYEONG
Namjoon: *playing Dynamite on the sax* pic.twitter.com/fSWF8OVdUO
— lea⁷ 🧑🏻🚀 (@seokjinbit) June 12, 2024
— ✿ livvy ✿ 리비 ✿ WELCOME BACK JIN (@junglegoo) June 12, 2024
RM even shared a photo of himself holding the saxophone while hugging Jin via Instagram Stories.
The BTS leader added a caption congratulating Jin on his discharge.
🐨’s instagram
congratulations on your military discharge dad 🫶
@/jin pic.twitter.com/lp8jeBu83y— haruharu💜 (slow) (@haruharu_w_bts) June 12, 2024
Yet, ARMYs noticed RM referred to Jin as “아빠 (appa).” This is the informal version of “father,” so basically “dad” or “daddy.” ARMYs wondered if RM was joining the “Daddy’s Home” trend in welcoming Jin’s return.
Namjoon literally said Daddy's home 😭 pic.twitter.com/qVyk02YdiY
— jin pics (@Seokjinpicss) June 12, 2024
IM THROWING UP DOES NAMJOON KNOW ABOUT DADDY'S HOME pic.twitter.com/jaFUgX5C5u
— yuki⁷ JINDEPENDENCE DAY🥳 (@joon_lovebot) June 12, 2024
NOT NAMJOON CALLING SEOKJIN WITH "DAD" 😭😭😭
<maybe he knows daddy's home joke> 😭 pic.twitter.com/uatkJ91VK9
— 𝒥𝒜 (@jinniesarchives) June 12, 2024
Not exactly…
Other ARMYs explained that RM is referencing a term from the Korean military. According to the Korean language wiki Namuwiki, “they call the military serial number exactly one year ahead of your own the “dad’s serial number” (아빠군번) or “father’s serial number,” and the one exactly one year behind your own the “son’s serial number.” If there’s a two-year difference, it’s called the “grandfather’s serial number.”
Namjoon calling Seokjin appa is about this thing in the military called ‘아빠군번’ (Dad military service number).
It simply refers to seniors who enlisted earlier than you (abt 1yr). And vice versa the maknae line would be 아들군번 (Son military service number) to Seokjin lol https://t.co/D4PLFYn42M pic.twitter.com/4Vok60cxjY— 𝓪⁷ (@JlNSONYEONDAN) June 12, 2024
여기서 아빠는 진짜 아빠 아닙니다 ㅋㅋ
자기랑 입대일이 1년정도 차이 나는것을
아빠군번이라고 합니다. 남준이는 아들군번😘김석진 입대 :2022년 12월 13일
김남준 입대 :2023년 12월 11일 pic.twitter.com/37Gbpou8ZF— 푸른고양이 RPWP⁷ (@bluecat_2575) June 12, 2024
Here, Dad is not really a dad haha. They say it’s because there’s about a year’s difference between Jin’s and RM’s enlistment dates. Kim Seokjin’s enlistment was on December 13, 2022, and Kim Namjoon’s enlistment was on December 11, 2023.
— @bluecat_2575/X
So, RM may or may not have known about the international “Daddy’s Home” trend.