Written by: Kimmy McKernie
Bantan Sonyeondan,known as BTS, debuted in 2013, and are bridging the gap between Western and Korean culture with their music. On October 10, 2016, BTS released their album Wings which won them Album of the Year at the Seoul Music Awards. Wings broke 37 world-wide records including Highest Charted K-Pop Album on US iTunes. They continued their success while on tour in the United States, with numerous concerts selling out in minutes in Newark, Chicago and Anaheim.
In 2017, BTS became the first K-Pop artist to win the Billboard Top Social Artist Award, beating artists such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Shawn Mendes. When BTS took to the stage to accept the Billboard Award, they looked overwhelmed by the support of their fans, who packed the venue and showed their support with screams.
The leader of the group, Namjoon (Rapmonster), from Ilsan-gu, South Korea, said, “We still cannot believe we’re standing here on this stage at the Billboard Music Awards . . . Most importantly, this award belongs to all the people around the world that shine their love and light on us by the millions and make BTS proud.”
The audience of Western artists, such as Miley Cyrus and Laura Marano, were respectfully and enthusiastically applauding the K-pop group on their success.
BTS continues their success around the world, selling out concert venues and breaking viewing records with their music videos on YouTube. On September 18, 2017, BTS released their much-anticipated mini-album Love Yourself: Her. Within hours, their music video for their single “DNA” set a new record for the most watched K-Pop video within the first 24 hours of its release. More recently, the DNA music video surpassed 90 million views on YouTube.
BTS then made their return the first week of October in support of their new album, winning at the Japan Golden Disc Awards, Best 3 Albums as well as winning the Cultural Minister Award at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. Their single DNA hit No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, which makes them the highest charting K-Pop group today. The Love Yourself: Her album charted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 200 and they keep the title of No. 1 on the Billboard Social 50. Now there is talk of a possible Grammy nomination – another first for a K-Pop group in the United States.
