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10 years of K-pop megastars BTS: Five things to know

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Agence France-Presse 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="BTS" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/06/12/061223_bts.jpg"/><figcaption>(L-R) V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive for the 64th annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, April 3, 2022. <em>David Swanson, EPA-EFE/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>SEOUL — Seoul this week marks 10 years of megastars BTS, the supergroup credited with bringing K-pop into the global mainstream and generating billions of dollars for the South Korean economy.</p><p>They&#x27;ve been called &quot;icons of progressive globalism&quot;, were once South Korean presidential envoys, and have done everything from Korean Air in-flight safety videos to campaigning for UNICEF.</p><p>At heart, however, they&#x27;re entertainers. Here, AFP breaks down what you need to know about BTS:</p><div><strong>WHO ARE BTS? </strong></div><p>After debuting on June 13, 2013, the septet went on to become the first all-South Korean act to dominate the US and UK charts, raking in billions of dollars and building a global fandom, known as ARMY, in the process.</p><p>Their embrace of social media meant they barely missed a beat during the pandemic, using direct engagement with fans online to cement their position as the world&#x27;s biggest and most influential boy band.</p><p>Despite earlier breakthrough Korean hits like Psy&#x27;s &quot;Gangnam Style&quot;, BTS are widely credited with bringing K-pop into the mainstream in the US.</p><p>&quot;As a South Korean idol group, BTS have smashed so many preconceived notions and industry odds to become chart-topping, Grammy-nominated musicians,&quot; Jeff Benjamin, Billboard&#x27;s K-pop columnist, told AFP.</p><p>&quot;Crucially, they did it not by adjusting their viewpoints, perspectives or languages to cater to the larger market but by firmly establishing themselves as the K-pop musicians they are.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/31/23/bts-to-release-new-single-in-june-for-10th-anniversary">BTS to release new single &#x27;Take Two&#x27; in June for 10th anniversary</a></li></ul><div><strong>WHAT DO THEY DO? </strong></div><p>Aside from music, the band has long championed global progressive causes, from the Black Lives Matter protests to fighting anti-Asian racism in the United States.</p><p>They&#x27;ve spoken at the United Nations and appeared at the White House, while still remaining one of the most popular bands in the world on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.</p><p>Prior to BTS, K-pop &quot;was treated as a niche interest, separate from global culture&quot;, Sarah Keith, a senior lecturer in media and music at Australia&#x27;s Macquarie University, told AFP.</p><p>&quot;BTS&#x27;s global popularity has led to a change in this perspective. BTS has arguably changed how the world perceives South Korea.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/12/23/bts-to-release-memoir-in-july ">K-pop megastars BTS to release memoir in July</a></li></ul><div> <strong>HOW ARE THEY CELEBRATING?</strong></div><p>Ironically, the band is currently on a hiatus, with two members performing their mandatory South Korean military service.</p><p>All able-bodied South Korean men must serve at least 18 months in the military, and after a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the oldest member of the group, began his service in December. J-Hope started his service in April.</p><p>But the septet released a new digital single last week to celebrate the anniversary: &quot;Take Two&quot;, purportedly a nod to the band&#x27;s second chapter after a decade as musicians.</p><p>&quot;All seven members participated in &#x27;Take Two&#x27;&quot;, their agency Hybe said. &quot;The song conveys their appreciation for ARMY, for all the love you shower them with.&quot;</p><p>A number of important tourist spots across Seoul, including the Namsan Seoul Tower and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, will be lit up in purple -- ARMY&#x27;s colour -- in celebration of the anniversary.</p><p>Band leader RM will attend the main event of the celebration in Seoul at the Han River Park on June 17.</p><div><strong>ON A BREAK? </strong></div><p>The band, who are known to be extremely hard-working and have maintained a relentless pace of new releases in their nine years at the top, said last year they were &quot;exhausted&quot; and would take a break.</p><p>RM said at the time that the K-pop industry -- known for its cut-throat competition -- was not allowing him to mature as an artist, saying he felt like a &quot;rapping machine&quot;.</p><p>Since the announcement, BTS members who are still obliged to join the military have focused on their solo careers.</p><p>Jimin released his six-track solo album &quot;Face&quot; in March, with the single &quot;Like Crazy&quot; earning him a place in the record books as the first South Korean solo artist to land the number one spot on the top US songs chart.</p><p>Band member Suga is currently on his first solo worldwide tour.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/17/22/bts-members-to-fulfill-mandatory-military-service">K-pop supergroup BTS to fulfill mandatory military service starting with Jin</a></li></ul><div><strong>WHAT&#x27;S NEXT? </strong></div><p>Local media says the ongoing break may last as long as seven years if the septet decides to wait until all members complete their military duties before resuming group activities.</p><p>In March, Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of Hybe and the mastermind behind BTS, said industry figures -- including global ratings and album sales -- showed a declining demand for K-pop, blaming the BTS hiatus.</p><p>&quot;It remains to be seen how the group can re-integrate as a seven-member group once they have finished their military service, as this is usually a difficult time for male artist groups,&quot; Keith said.</p><p>But the ongoing break could be &quot;a growth period for BTS overall as members pursue solo interests and add more diversity to BTS&#x27;s output&quot;, she added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/18/23/are-bts-v-blackpinks-jennie-dating-agencies-respond">Are BTS&#x27; V, Blackpink&#x27;s Jennie dating? Agencies respond</a></li></ul><div><strong>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents" target="_blank">Hallyu Corner microsite</a>. </strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MBvT6mcVsw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hwlbd4tHiXo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div></div>

Seoul this week marks 10 years of megastars BTS, the supergroup credited with bringing K-pop into the global mainstream and generating billions of dollars for the South Korean economy.