BTS

BTS is a South Korean boy band - a K-pop group, BTS debuted on June 12, 2013; by 2017, they had entered the global music market, leading the Korean Wave into the US, and becoming the first Korean ensemble to receive a Gold certification from the RIAA for the single "Mic Drop."

Between 2018 and 2020, they became the fastest group since the Beatles to land four #1 albums on the US Billboard chart! This included Love Yourself: Answer (2018), which marked a historical moment as the first Korean album certified Platinum in the US.

Their global impact grew with "Dynamite" (2020), the first song by an all-South Korean act to top both the Billboard Hot 100 charts This Grammy-nominated single solidified their status as "Princes of Pop."

BTS' influence extends far beyond music. They've been recognized by Time Magazine on multiple occasions, including being named among the "25 Most Influential People on the Internet" (2017-2019) and the "100 Most Influential People in the World" (2019). Their contributions to Korean culture were acknowledged in 2018 when they became the youngest recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit.

BTS at the White House in 2022 (left to right): V, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, Jin, J-Hope, and Suga

In June 2022, BTS announced a temporary break from group activities to allow members to fulfill their mandatory military service in South Korea. Jin, the eldest member, began his service in December 2022, with the other members following suit in 2023. 

Did you know BTS wasn't always called BTS? They debuted in 2013 as Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to "Bulletproof Boy Scouts" or "Bangtan Boys" in English. They later adopted the acronym BTS  for a more international appeal.

RM, formerly known as Rap Monster, was the first member scouted by Big Hit Entertainment in 2010. He was an underground rapper at the time and is now the leader of the group.

BTS is the first K-pop group to address the United Nations. In 2021, they spoke about the importance of youth and self-love at the 76th UN General Assembly.

While all the members can sing, only RM, Suga, and J-Hope are considered the main rappers. Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook are the vocalists, but they all contribute to the group's music through rapping or singing depending on the song.

BTS's fandom is famously called ARMY, which stands for "Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth." It signifies the strong bond between the group and their fans.