BT21: the 8 BTS characters, their names and their story
KOYA, RJ, SHOOKY, MANG, CHIMMY, TATA, COOKY and VAN: who came up with whom, what to know about each one, and how to choose your first BT21.
- BT21 is a family of 8 characters launched in 2017 by LINE FRIENDS with the group BTS.
- The BTS members came up with them themselves, based on their own sketches.
- KOYA (RM), RJ (Jin), SHOOKY (SUGA), MANG (j-hope), CHIMMY (Jimin), TATA (V), COOKY (Jungkook)… and VAN, the guardian robot who represents the fans, the ARMY.
- The name combines “BT” for BTS and “21” for the 21st century.
- You’ll find them in the original version, BABY, NEWBORN or minini: plushies, keychains, decor, stationery.
Contents
A little puppy in a yellow hoodie, a pink bunny with big eyebrows, a cookie who plays pranks: if you’ve ever spotted these faces on a bag or a keychain, you already know BT21. They’re the characters the seven members of BTS came up with in 2017 with LINE FRIENDS, the Korean character brand known for its messaging stickers.
What makes BT21 special is that each member drew his own character. The result: eight little creatures, each with its own personality, that BTS fans love to collect, but that also appeal to lots of people who don’t listen to K-pop. In this guide, we introduce the 8 BT21 characters one by one, with the member who came up with each, then help you find your way through the lines and choose your first BT21.
The 8 BT21 characters and their names
Seven characters were each created by a member of BTS; the eighth, VAN, represents the fans. A quick note: they are not portraits of the members, but characters they created, with their own story. Here’s who’s who, so you never mix them up again.
KOYACreated by RM
- A blue koala, very gifted and always lost in thought
- He thinks so much that he falls asleep all the time
RJCreated by Jin
- An all-white alpaca, kind and caring
- His passion: cooking, then eating, in that order
SHOOKYCreated by SUGA
- A tiny cookie who loves playing pranks on his friends
- What he hates most: milk
MANGCreated by j-hope
- The gang’s dancer, always hidden behind a mask with a heart-shaped nose
- He showed his face for the first time in April 2023
CHIMMYCreated by Jimin
- Recognizable by his yellow hoodie and his tongue that’s always sticking out
- A big enthusiast who gives his all in everything he does
TATACreated by V
- The crown prince of planet BT, with a red heart-shaped head
- He has superpowers and an elastic body that stretches really far
COOKYCreated by Jungkook
- A cute-looking pink bunny… who’s very muscular
- He trains to become strong, and he’s a loyal friend
VAN is the eighth character: a space robot who knows everything and who protects the BT21. He was designed to represent BTS fans, the ARMY. He mostly appears on group visuals: there’s no product featuring him alone at the moment.
Not sure who to start with? One of our most requested plushies over the last three months is the Made by RJ series: the seven characters in an extra-soft version, to choose one by one.
Our customers’ favoriteBT21 PLUSH MADE BY RJ29,90 € SEEThe story of BT21: when BTS drew its characters
BT21 was born in 2017. It’s the first project of LINE FRIENDS CREATORS, an idea from LINE FRIENDS: inviting an artist to create their own characters, with help from its designers. BTS was the first artist to take part.
Instead of receiving ready-made characters, the members drew their own sketches. They then worked with the LINE FRIENDS teams to give each one a personality, tastes and a little backstory. The behind-the-scenes was filmed in “Making of BT21” videos, where each member presents his drawing while the others play art critics. The seven members also came up with VAN, as the gang’s guardian.
Since then, the characters have kept evolving. The most memorable moment for fans: in April 2023, in a series of official YouTube videos, MANG finally took off his mask, more than five years after his creation.
In “BT21”, “BT” comes from BTS and “21” from the 21st century. In Korean, 21 is often pronounced “isibil”.
The BT21 lines: BABY, NEWBORN, minini…
In stores, the same character comes in several styles. Don’t panic, they’re just different drawings of the same eight heroes. Here are the names you’ll see on the labels of our official products.
| Line | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| BT21 (original) | The characters as they were drawn in 2017: seasonal plushies, bags, magnets |
| BABY | Baby version, big head and small body: standing plushies, cushions, pouches |
| NEWBORN BABY | Newborn version, even smaller and rounder: mini plushies, keychains |
| minini, mini minini | Mini version, very simplified: keychains, towels, magnets, pens |
Alongside these lines, LINE FRIENDS regularly releases themed collections, with a name in capital letters at the end of the product name: SNOWMAN for winter, HONEY BEE, BEYOND THE JOURNEY (space-themed) or series inspired by Korea like K-HORANG, with a little tiger costume.
Which BT21 to choose?
Pick the type of item you’d like: we give you our favorite, plus two ideas to round things out. Almost all of them exist for all seven characters, so go for your favorite member’s.
A plushie to cuddle
For a first BT21, a plushie is still the classic choice. The NEWBORNs fit in your hand, the “medium” models are made for a real hug.
A keychain for your bag
The easiest way to take your character everywhere. Plush keychains can be seen from afar, hooked onto a bag or a pencil case.
For home and the office
Small useful items to bring BT21 into your daily life, without taking up space.
Bags and accessories
For fans who want an accessory they’ll actually wear, in the city or when traveling.
BT21 in 2026: what’s happening right now
This year, BT21 has been in the news a lot. In July 2026, McDonald’s launched a BT21 Happy Meal in the United States, with 10 different toys: the seven characters on a clip-on ring, VAN, the whole gang on a boat, and a poster. The promotion was for American restaurants.
On the BTS side, 2026 is also the year of the big comeback: after all seven members finished their military service, the group released the album ARIRANG on March 20, 2026 and is touring the world, with a stop at the Stade de France on July 17 and 18. As of mid-October 2026, the tour is in Latin America. We tell you everything in our article on BTS.
Official BT21 merch from Ma Petite Corée
All our BT21 products are official LINE FRIENDS products, bought in Korea and shipped from our office in Seoul. We’ve picked items for each character for you, from small keychains to seasonal plushies.
Want a gift that speaks to a BTS fan? Check out the PURPLE HEART editions, like the BABY KOYA plushie: the purple refers to “I purple you” (borahae in Korean), the phrase V came up with in 2016 to say “I will love you for a long time”. And for seasonal collections, don’t wait too long: they sell out fast.
Frequently asked questions about the BT21 characters
What is BT21?
BT21 is a family of 8 characters created in 2017 by LINE FRIENDS with the members of BTS, who drew their characters themselves.
What are the names of the BT21 characters?
There are eight: KOYA, RJ, SHOOKY, MANG, CHIMMY, TATA, COOKY and VAN.
Which BT21 character goes with which BTS member?
KOYA was created by RM, RJ by Jin, SHOOKY by SUGA, MANG by j-hope, CHIMMY by Jimin, TATA by V and COOKY by Jungkook. VAN represents the fans, the ARMY.
Who is KOYA in BT21?
KOYA is the blue koala created by RM, the leader of BTS. Very gifted, he thinks so much that he falls asleep all the time.
Which BT21 character is Jungkook’s?
It’s COOKY, the cute-looking but very muscular pink bunny.
Who is VAN in BT21?
VAN is a space robot who protects the BT21. He was designed to represent BTS fans, the ARMY.
Are the BT21 products from Ma Petite Corée official?
Yes, everything we sell is official and ships directly from our office in Seoul.
Read also
Jihyun, team Ma Petite Corée
Photos: official BT21 product visuals © LINE FRIENDS, photos from the Ma Petite Corée store.
3 comments
J’adore l’univers de BTS ,je l’ai aime énormément 💜. Et cette petite famille (BT21) est juste adorable 💜✨
J’adore l’univers de BTS ,je l’ai aime énormément 💜. Et cette petite famille (BT21) est juste adorable 💜✨
J’adore l’univers Coréenne❤️ et BTS💜 tout mon amour vous accompagne