What Does “Papacito” Mean? Why BTS Fans Called Jung Kook and Jimin This in Colombia
BTS’s first full-group concerts in Colombia gave ARMY plenty of memorable moments, but one Spanish word unexpectedly became one of the biggest talking points of the weekend:
“Papacito.”
During BTS’s ARIRANG World Tour shows at Bogotá’s Estadio El Campín on October 2 and 3, fans shouted the word at both Jimin and Jung Kook, prompting reactions that quickly spread across social media. 스타뉴스
So what does “papacito” actually mean — and why were Colombian fans calling BTS members that?
What does “papacito” mean?
In this context, “papacito” is a playful Spanish compliment for an attractive man.
It can carry a flirty tone, closer to saying someone is very handsome, sexy or especially attractive rather than using a literal translation of the word.
The meaning can vary depending on country, tone and context, but during the BTS concerts in Bogotá it was clearly being used as an enthusiastic compliment from fans. Korean media covering Jung Kook’s viral moment also described the expression as an affectionate way of referring to a handsome and attractive man. 스타뉴스
Why did fans call Jimin “papacito”?
Jimin received the shout during BTS’s first Bogotá concert.
Fans repeatedly yelled “papacito” from the audience, and Jimin appeared initially amused by the unfamiliar expression.
His reaction made the moment even more popular.
After hearing the chant, Jimin responded that he could hardly believe he was hearing something like that and said he liked it. Colombia’s Canal Trece later joined the joke on social media by asking how fans should explain the meaning of “papacito” to him. 스타뉴스
The interaction happened during an already emotional moment for Jimin.
Fans also surprised him with an early birthday celebration ahead of his October 13 birthday, while Jimin told the Colombian audience that their singing had been among the loudest he had heard. KStarTrend
Jung Kook became “Papacito JK”
Jung Kook had his own encounter with the word during the Bogotá concerts.
As he delivered his closing remarks, fans throughout El Campín began chanting “Papacito!” at him.
Videos of the moment spread quickly online, and fans began referring to him jokingly as “Papacito JK.” Reports published after the concerts noted that Jung Kook remained prominent in real-time social media trends in Colombia and internationally as clips continued circulating. 스타뉴스
That nickname is now becoming one of the small viral moments associated with BTS’s first visit to Colombia as a complete group.
Why did “papacito” become such a viral BTS moment?
Part of the appeal is the language barrier.
Spanish-speaking fans immediately understood what the audience was saying, while international ARMY seeing the videos were left asking what the word meant.
That created the perfect viral combination:
BTS + a funny reaction + Colombian slang + fans needing an explanation.
The moment also felt spontaneous. It wasn’t part of the official show, choreography or scripted fan interaction. It was simply thousands of fans giving the members a very Latin American compliment — and watching them figure out what was happening.
BTS had plenty of Spanish moments in Colombia
“Papacito” wasn’t the only language-related moment to go viral during the Bogotá concerts.
The members experimented with Colombian Spanish expressions throughout the shows. Coverage from Colombia highlighted phrases such as “hágale pues” and other attempts by the members to communicate directly with local ARMY. www.vanguardia.com
Jimin also noticed something amusing about the city’s name: “Bogotá” reminded him of the Korean phrase “bogo sipda,” meaning “I miss you.” He used the similarity to tell fans that he had missed them. KStarTrend
Those small moments helped make BTS’s Colombian debut feel much more local than a standard tour stop.
Will fans keep calling Jung Kook and Jimin “papacito”?
Almost certainly.
Once a BTS inside joke takes hold, ARMY tends to keep it alive — and “Papacito JK” is already being used online after the Bogotá concerts.
For Spanish-speaking fans, the joke is obvious. For everyone else, the explanation is simple:
When Colombian ARMY called Jung Kook and Jimin “papacito,” they were basically telling them they looked extremely attractive.
And judging from Jimin’s reaction, he didn’t seem to mind at all.
Key Takeaways
“Papacito” is a playful Spanish compliment often used for a very attractive man. Colombian BTS fans shouted it at both Jimin and Jung Kook during the group’s Bogotá concerts on October 2 and 3. Jimin reacted with amusement after hearing the expression, while Jung Kook’s moment helped generate the viral nickname “Papacito JK.” 스타뉴스