BTS use rock paper scissors constantly on their variety show Run BTS, mostly to settle who gets a penalty, who goes first, or who escapes a final challenge. The best-known moments are Suga calling out Jungkook's habit in episode 96, V distracting the staff with a fake phone call in episode 127, and the Jimin-versus-V showdown that closed the Next Top Genius special.
We at WRPSA named BTS our official rock paper scissors ambassadors in recognition of those Run BTS moments. That is WRPSA's own designation, made to honour how much the members have done to put the game in front of a global audience; it is not a sponsorship or a contract, and I am not aware of BTS or HYBE commenting on it. What earned it is simple: the members play the game constantly, on camera, and play it well enough to make it good television.
Where the rock paper scissors moments come from
Run BTS is the group's own variety series. According to its public episode history, it premiered on 1 August 2015, streamed on V Live and later Weverse and YouTube, and ran through three seasons before a set of specials between August 2022 and February 2023. It returned as Run BTS 2.0 in 2026.
Across that run, rock paper scissors (in Korean, gawi bawi bo) is the default tie-breaker. Production teams on Korean variety shows lean on it because it is instant, needs no equipment, and everyone already knows it. That is also why it appears so often in fan compilations: the stakes are small, but the reactions are big.
The moments fans search for
| Episode | What happened | Why people remember it |
|---|---|---|
| Run BTS episode 96 | Suga pointed out that Jungkook tended to open with scissors. Jungkook tried to change, played paper and lost to V's rock, then switched to rock and lost to Jimin's paper. | Suga's "you're so readable" line, and a perfect demonstration of what happens when you overcorrect. |
| Run BTS episode 127 | Facing a dominoes penalty challenge, V was offered a rock paper scissors way out against the staff. Mid-game he pulled out his phone and pretended to call Jimin, then threw while the staff member was distracted. | It worked, and V's celebration made the clip. |
| Next Top Genius special (two parts, 2022-23 specials) | The final game was a team rock paper scissors match, with V and Jimin as the throwers and the other members split between them as advisers. | Five people shouting advice at two throwers is about as chaotic as the game gets. |
I have kept this table to moments I could confirm from episode listings and contemporary fan and entertainment coverage. You will find many more short clips of the members using the game to pick seats, food or penalty order, but compilations rarely name the episode, so I have not guessed.
What the clips get right about strategy
It is easy to watch these as pure comedy, but episode 96 in particular shows a real idea.
Habits are readable. Suga did not read Jungkook's mind. He noticed a pattern in what Jungkook had already thrown. That is the only legitimate "tell" in rock paper scissors: completed history. Across 3,020 throws recorded on wrpsa.com between 29 July and 27 September 2026 (943 players, mostly playing against the computer), rock was the most common first throw at 38.1%, with paper at 36.0% and scissors at 25.9%. Opening habits exist in any group of players, which is exactly what Suga exploited.
Overcorrecting is also readable. Once Jungkook knew he had been caught, he moved away from scissors. His opponents expected that. When a player is told about a habit, the next throw is often the one that beats the old habit, and an alert opponent can wait for it.
Distraction is not a strategy you should use in a real match. V's phone call is funny on a variety show where the whole point is mischief. In a refereed match it would be a foul: official rules require both players to reveal on the same beat, and playing late while your opponent is looking away is exactly what those rules exist to prevent. See our official rules for how timing is judged.
How BTS actually play: count and cadence
Korean players usually chant "gawi, bawi, bo" (scissors, rock, paper) and reveal on "bo." That is the same structure as the English "rock, paper, scissors, shoot": a shared count, then a simultaneous reveal. The hand shapes are the same as everywhere else: fist for rock, flat hand for paper, two fingers for scissors. If you want a primer on the shapes and their regional names, our how to play page covers it.
Variety shows also use a few twists you may see in clips:
- Team or "advised" rounds, as in Next Top Genius, where teammates suggest throws but only one person plays.
- Elimination rounds, where everyone throws at once and the minority hand is out. With seven members this can take several goes.
- Penalty escapes, where one round against a staff member decides whether a challenge is skipped.
None of these change the underlying game. They change who is under pressure, which is what makes them watchable.
Try it yourself
If watching these made you want to play, you can play rock paper scissors online against the computer or other people for free. Try Suga's approach: watch what your opponent has already thrown, form a guess, and see how often you are right. Then try Jungkook's problem in reverse and notice how quickly your own habits show up.
For more famous moments outside K-pop, see famous moments and our page on the game in pop culture.
FAQ
Are BTS official rock paper scissors ambassadors?
Yes, as far as WRPSA is concerned. We named BTS our official rock paper scissors ambassadors in recognition of their Run BTS rock paper scissors moments. It is an honorary designation from WRPSA, not an agreement signed with the group or HYBE.
Which Run BTS episode has rock paper scissors?
Many do, because it is the show's standard tie-breaker. The most searched are episode 96 (Suga reading Jungkook), episode 127 (V's fake phone call) and the Next Top Genius special, which ends in a team rock paper scissors match between V and Jimin.
What do Koreans say when playing rock paper scissors?
"Gawi, bawi, bo," which means scissors, rock, paper. Players reveal their hands on "bo."
Who is best at rock paper scissors in BTS?
There is no official record, and results in clips depend heavily on who is refereeing and how many rounds are shown. Fans often credit Suga for the episode 96 read, but I would not call anyone the champion from edited footage.