BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, is a globally renowned Korean Pop group formed by Big Hit Entertainment. The seven members: Jung Kook, RM, Jin, SUGA, J-hope, Jimin and V, were chosen in 2012, each bringing their own unique talents and charming appearances to the group. 

They debuted with their first single album 2 Cool 4 Skool featuring the title track “No More Dream.” After building their fanbase in 2015, they experienced their first major breakthrough on South Korean charts with their album I Need You, ranking number one on multiple music platforms like Soribada and Genie—popular music streaming platforms in Korea. 

Global fame however, took them until 2020 with the hit song “Dynamite,” which made history being the first K-pop song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also earned BTS their first Grammy nomination, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, cementing their place in global pop culture.

This growing popularity was halted in 2022 when the members had to complete their mandatory military service. After completing their service, the group officially reunited in June 2025, igniting their international fanbase, known as ARMY. 

To celebrate their return, BTS has launched brand collaborations, one of the most exciting ones being with McDonalds. This partnership features TinyTAN character versions of each member, as collectable toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals. 

The latest BTS collaboration isn’t the first time the group has teamed up with McDonald’s. Their partnership originally began on May 26, 2021, with the release of the first BTS meal.

Unlike a traditional Happy Meal, the collaboration featured a full meal complete with Chicken McNuggets, fries, a drink, and a special dipping sauce inspired by McDonald’s South Korean menu that has Cajun and Sweet Chili sauce. The BTS Meal became a massive global success, generating about $98 million in revenue for McDonald’s and dominating social media discussions for weeks.

However, the partnership didn’t end there. Over four years later, on September 3rd, 2025, McDonald’s and BTS came together for a second collaboration. Although, this time it was centered around a BTS-themed Happy Meal. Each meal includes a TinyTAN toy representing one of the seven members, along with a matching photocard.

The Happy Meal box itself received a makeover, trading McDonald’s usual bright red for BTS’s signature purple. Even the milk bottle was redesigned to match the new theme. The collaboration was planned in two waves of toy releases. The first wave ran from September 2nd to September 22nd, featuring the TinyTAN characters in their usual on-stage outfits. The second wave, starting on September 23rd and lasting seven weeks, has BTS members dressed in McDonald’s iconic red and with the golden smile logo.

As expected, the toys have become instant collector’s items. Fans and resellers have already begun listing them online at inflated prices, some reaching over $100 each. The K-pop fanbase—especially BTS’s—ARMY, is famous for its dedication and willingness to spend significant amounts to collect merchandise of their favorite band.

The promotion’s structure encourages repeat purchases. Since each Happy Meal comes with a random, sealed blind box toy, fans don’t know which member they’ll receive until they open it. Collecting all seven members (or all 14 if you include both waves of toys) requires luck, persistence, and often multiple purchases. With Happy Meals averaging around $4 each, even a lucky fan who gets all 14 toys without duplicates would spend at least $56. For most fans, the total ends up being much higher.

This strategy has proven to be an effective revenue booster for McDonald’s. Fans are happy to support BTS while getting adorable, surprisingly well-made TinyTAN toys in return. In the end, it’s a win-win situation. McDonald’s gets a large profit and fans get another piece of BTS merchandise to treasure.