BTS: Why Is Suga Also Called ‘Agust D’?

In 2016, BTS’s rapper Suga released his solo mixtape called Agust D. He also adopted “Agust D” as the stage name that he works under when not releasing music with BTS.

However, Suga’s real name is Min Yoongi, which means he actually has two stage names. It is a bit uncommon for artists to have two stage names, so some fans might be wondering why Suga does solo work under “Agust D,” and what the difference between his two personas might be.

Where does the name ‘Suga’ come from?

As mentioned before, Suga’s real name is Min Yoon-gi. When he debuted with BTS in 2013, he decided to go by the name “Suga.”

According to Koreaboo, Big Hit Entertainment’s CEO, Bang Si-hyuk, was the person who came up with “Suga.” Suga himself reportedly liked it because it contradicted with his cold appearance. Additionally, the name could also stand for “shooting guard,” a position he often played in basketball.

Why is Suga also called ‘Agust D’?

Most K-pop idols who go by a stage name will continue to do so when they release solo music. However, Suga is different in that his solo albums have all been released under the name “Agust D.”

In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Suga revealed he made this decision because Agust D is a different alter ego than Suga. He explained that Agust D represents a “raw side” that he has not been able to showcase as Suga.

Speaking to Grazia Korea in 2016, Suga shared he often wrote his name as “DT Suga” in his lyrics, and “Agust D” is simply “DT Suga” written backwards. “DT” also stands for “Daegu Town,” which is where Suga is from.

Which other BTS members have stage names?

Aside from Suga, three other members of BTS have stage names: RM, J-Hope, and V.

RM used to be known as “Rap Monster,” which came from a song he wrote many years ago. However, in 2017, he decided to shorten it to “RM.” He also shared with Entertainment Tonight that the new name “could symbolize many things,” including the phrase “Real Me.”

Meanwhile, J-Hope’s stage name is a combination of his last name, Jung, and his desire to bring hope to BTS and his fans. In BTS’s docu-series, Bring the Soul, J-Hope also revealed the name has a reference to Pandora’s Box in Greek mythology, which says humans still have hope even after going through tough times. J-Hope’s name definitely fits his character a lot as he is known for his positive attitude and happy personality.

V’s stage name is a bit more simple than his fellow members’. In an interview with Curvism Magazine in 2013, as translated by a fan account on Tumblr, V said: “My stage name was chosen last. Six, Lex, V. Those three names were suggested but the members and PD all said that V fit me the best and so I picked V to stand for victory.”