Explained: How BTS, The Band Changed Korean Music Industry
BTS, the K-pop sensation, has announced that they'll be taking a break as they embark on a new chapter as a band and will focus more on their individual projects.
BTS, the K-pop sensation, has announced that they'll be taking a break as they embark on a new chapter as a band and will focus more on their individual projects. Jin, Jimin, RM, J-Hope, Suga, V, and Jungkook gathered for a pre-recorded dinner, which was broadcasted on YouTube the day after the band's 9th anniversary. The hour-long conversation began with them sharing stories about their old days and ended with them discussing the path they want to take as a band now.
What is BTS?
BTS is a 7-member K-pop (Korean music community) group formed in 2013 by Big Hit Entertainment, a limited, fledgling league which has now grown into a Korean entertainment powerhouse.
Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates as "Bulletproof Boy Scouts" in English, was founded by CEO Bang Si-Hyuk in order to build a team that could withstand social influences and end up serving as a voice for the younger population.
Instagram
"No More Dream," the team's 1st single, is an aggressive hip-hop track that calls out the younger generation who don't have their own dreams, challenging societal learning standards for Korean youth in the process.
BTS has found great success in both Korea and ultimately globally since their debut, securing their present position as that of the world's biggest boy band.
BTS debut
On April 11, 1992, a hip-hop trio named Seo Taiji and Boys appeared on a domestic South Korean network in a talent contest.
In June 2013 and within a few years, with its catchy hits as well as social initiatives aimed to empower the younger generation, k-pop had become a global sensation.
The group's rapid rise was accompanied by a significant fan base and global attention, and also influenced other artists in the Korean entertainment industry.
Web screen grab/LA Times
Aside from numerous awards and honors, the group has been invited to address the United Nations General Assembly, and a brief recent visit to the White House included talks with United States President Joe Biden on ways of reducing violence against Asian Americans.
BTS is also known for its emphasis on storytelling: from 2015 onwards, a significant portion of its pop songs and additional content have played into a core story line that started with The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series, casting the BTS members as youngsters caught up in heady, personal struggles.
What makes the BTS army different?
The group's global fandom was undeniably influential, and the group forced governments and institutions to sit up and take notice.
Seo Taiji and Boys were trailblazers who questioned social rules in musical styles, song subjects, fashion, and censorship, which was unprecedented for a culture for whom the musical production had been heavily regulated by the government for years.
Unsplash/Representational image
In the 1990s, three major music studios began producing idol groups. Idol groups are meticulously honed to present the highest levels of beauty, dance, and musicality.
Idol groups have come to dominate the Korean entertainment industry, but idol life is heavily laden with toxic and abusive components. They systematically evened out the majority of the individual expression and socially conscious music as part of the system.
Within this atmosphere, a man named Bang Si-hyuk started quietly constructing a different type of studio and cultivating the band that became BTS. "We came together with a common dream of writing, dancing, and producing music that reflects our musical backgrounds as well as our life values of acceptance, vulnerability, and success," BTS's leader, RM, told Time in 2017.
Tackling real world problems
ARMY's organisation and mobilisation extends beyond social media to offline projects as well. Many of these are charitable in nature, inspired by BTS' philanthropic work, which range from launching the anti-violence Love Myself campaign with UNICEF to creating individual donations on group members' birthdays.
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OIAA, which stands for One In An ARMY, is a nonprofit organisation that collaborates with nonprofit organisations across the globe and encourages microdonations. Its 1st campaign, introduced in April 2018 in collaboration with the nonprofit Medical Teams International, assisted in providing medical care to Syrians.
What does 'BTS ARMY' mean?
It's a common practice for K-pop communities to give their fans meaningful names: ARMY is an acronym that stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youth and refers to BTS' original idea of being a voice and shield for youngsters.
However, that specific acronym is no longer commonly used, and ARMY has come to symbolize "army" more literally as a group of fans and supporters who stand alongside BTS. ARMY's goal is to always support BTS, whether that be through streaming campaigns or by using popular hashtags to celebrate members' birthdays.
'I purple you'
Twitter
Kim Taehyung, one of the 7-man band's vocalists, first used the sentence during the band's 3rd Muster (a fan club event) in 2016. Before they finished their performance, Taehyung told fans, "I purple you," as the lighting cast rays of purple light on the audience.
Fans have used the colour purple to express their love for BTS since Taehyung coined the phrase.
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