Busan mayor proposes allowing alternative military services for BTS
BUSAN: Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon has proposed allowing the members of K-pop superband BTS to replace their military duties with alternative service as public relations ambassadors for the city’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo, officials said Thursday. The government formally appointed the septet last month as a PR ambassador in charge of promoting […]
At United Nations, BTS praises youth for welcoming challenges of COVID-19 pandemic
NEW YORK: South Korean superband BTS addressed the U.N. General Assembly Monday and praised the world’s young people for welcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The septet flew to New York to speak in person at the 76th U.N. General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals Moment event as special presidential envoys for future generations […]
Korean beach in Samcheok achieves fame thanks to BTS’ photo shoot
SAMCHEOK: A scenic beach in South Korea’s eastern coastal city of Samcheok has seen an influx of visitors thanks to its growing popularity as the location for K-pop superstar BTS’ photo shoot for its megahit single “Butter.” The city government of Samcheok, about 290 kilometers east of Seoul, saw its otherwise serene beaches emerge as […]
Nearly 1 million viewers from 191 countries for BTS’ online concert
SEOUL: Nearly 1 million viewers watched an online concert of K-pop superstar BTS held over the weekend, the band’s agency said Monday. Some 993,000 viewers from 191 countries and territories watched “BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E” that was streamed online due to the pandemic, according to Big Hit Entertainment. The two-day concert, held in […]
With ‘Dynamite,’ BTS becomes first South Korean artist to top Billboard Hot 100
WASHINGTON: BTS became the first South Korean artist to land at No. 1 on Billboard’s main singles chart in the United States on Monday. “BTS achieves its first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as ‘Dynamite’ debuts at the summit,” Billboard reported Monday, one day before its chart will be refreshed. Previously, […]
BTS’ new single ‘Dynamite’ celebrates spirit of happiness, confidence in pandemic era
SEOUL: Sometimes a small slice of comforting, feel-good entertainment, whether it be music, television or film, can go a long way in dealing with stress and fatigue, especially now more than ever amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic. And that’s exactly what global K-pop sensation BTS had in mind when preparing to bring out its latest […]
BTS fans raise $1 million in Black Lives Matter donations
SEOUL: International fans of K-pop giants BTS have raised over $1 million in donations for the Black Lives Matter cause in the United States, matching the amount donated earlier by their idols toward the human rights movement, according to a fan charity project Monday. One In An ARMY, an organization of BTS fans involved in […]
BTS’ new album tops record-high 91 iTunes charts
Seoul: K-pop super band BTS wrote iTunes chart history Saturday with its new album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” topping the iTunes album charts in 91 countries and regions, the band’s management agency said. As of Saturday morning (Korean time), “Map of the Soul: 7” landed atop the iTunes “top album” charts in 91 countries […]
BTS’ latest three concerts in Seoul had economic effect of $860.7 million
Seoul: K-pop boy band BTS created an economic effect worth 1 trillion won (US$860.7 million) with its latest three concerts in Seoul, an academic report showed Monday. The septet finished off its latest world tour, “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself,” with the final leg in Seoul where three evening concerts at Olympic Stadium on Oct. 26, […]
Grammys under fire after BTS wasn’t nominated for 2020 event
Seoul: The Grammy Awards, one of the major American pop music award events, have become fodder for criticism after K-pop band BTS was shut out of the nominations for the 2020 Grammys. Many eyes had been on BTS’ possible nomination when the American Recording Academy announced the 2020 list of nominees Wednesday following the septet’s […]