In the world of K-pop, standing in the footsteps of legendary seniors comes with immense pressure, especially when sharing the same agency hall. CORTIS, the rookie boy group under BIGHIT MUSIC, has frequently voiced their deep admiration for BTS as the trailblazers who paved the way for their music. However, a recent speech by CORTIS leader Martin has sparked a heated debate online—forcing fans to question where heartfelt respect ends and uninspired copycat behavior begins.
At the center of the storm is a viral video featuring Martin’s breakdown of his group’s success, a formula that ARMYs instantly recognized as an echo of BTS leader RM’s legendary humility speech.
The Gold Standard: BTS RM’s Legendary 5% Trophy Speech
To understand why fans are so sensitive about the comparison, one must look back at how BTS leader RM redefined leadership philosophy. RM famously broke down how he believed the credit for any award or trophy earned by BTS should be divided:
- ARMY (The Fans): 50%
- The 7 BTS Members: 35% in total (with exactly 5% allocated to each member)
- HYBE / BIGHIT MUSIC: 15%
Explaining his personal 5% contribution, RM humbly noted: “So if it’s a trophy, my percent is like 5… it’s like the edge of the trophy.” This memorable analogy became a signature symbol of RM’s humility, showing how he views his leadership as merely holding down a tiny corner of a massive collective achievement.
This hard watch https://t.co/ett9TnUifE
— 🕷️ (@schiaparelliv) October 23, 2026
The Spark: CORTIS Martin’s Viral Breakdown
The online debate erupted after a video of CORTIS leader Martin began circulating across social media platforms, featuring his own numerical breakdown of success.
According to English translations of his remarks, Martin stated: “I think what made it happen was 25% of us, each member contributed 5%. The other 25% is our staff, the rest of 50% is because of [you].”
Much like RM’s breakdown, Martin:
- Attributed Half the Credit to Fans: Allocating a full 50% directly to their fandom.
- Equal Member Division: Assigned exactly 5% to each individual member.
- Acknowledged Support: Included staff and company contributions to complete the total.
Although the exact percentages and phrasing differed slightly, the structural logic and underlying core philosophy were so strikingly similar that ARMYs immediately connected the dots.
Fandom Divided: Homage to Seniors or Lack of Originality?
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), the resemblance has triggered split reactions.
One side of the debate views Martin’s words as a sweet, sincere tribute from a rookie leader looking up to his role model. As members of CORTIS have repeatedly referred to BTS as their “hyeongs” (older brothers) and inspiration, leaning into similar values feels natural to many supporters.
This hard watch https://t.co/ett9TnUifE
— 🕷️ (@schiaparelliv) October 23, 2026
However, critics and skeptical fans argue differently:
- Establishing an Identity: Some fans question whether CORTIS should be developing their own unique voice instead of recycling a philosophy so uniquely tied to RM’s personal legacy.
- The BIGHIT Connection: The fact that both groups belong to BIGHIT MUSIC—with CORTIS being the agency’s first new boy group in six years after BTS and TXT—puts the rookies under an intense microscope.
- The Line Between Respect and Copying: For a portion of the fandom, it raises uncomfortable questions about whether a junior group can honor their predecessors without blurring the line of originality.
Ultimately, whether Martin intended to pay homage to RM or simply shared a similar leadership mindset, the comparison highlights the delicate balance junior acts must strike when navigating the shadow of global icons. For now, claims of plagiarism remain unverified fan speculation.
no hate but he got all namjoon hand movements down,like what the hell?? I found it weird the first time too like sure he’s a good leader and all but he’s copied pasted all of Joon personality
— ⋆✩⁷ (@tyunkittypaws) October 23, 2026
Source: Compiled from various sources
