K-pop’s global domination has reached a new feat with the renowned boy band BTS. They will soon receive a special honor from the Korean government. This is for their contribution in spreading Korea’s culture and language worldwide.
According to The Korean Herald yesterday, the announcement came from The Blue House spokesman Kim Eui Kyeom. He revealed that BTS would be given a fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit. It’s awarded to people who have promoted Korean culture on a global scale.
For a hardworking boy band in Korea like BTS, this high honor is a well-deserved one. They are the youngest recipients of this civil cultural award and have been in the industry only for five years.
BTS has defied expectation of what a K-pop band could be since their debut. This starts with them not represented by the three major entertainment arms in Korea. Despite not being under YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment; they achieved global stardom and became the biggest K-pop acts as of the moment.
Officially K Music dubbed them as the “hardest working rookies” at the time. They managed to release four high-budget music videos, a TV show called Rookie King: Bangtam and kept their Youtube channel updated through vlogs all in their first year. All of the hustle of these seven boys paid off as they reached acclaim—not only in Korea—but also across the globe.
BTS is the first Asian act to perform in a US Stadium like New York’s Citi Field. Love Yourself: Answer and Love Yourself: Tear are the first albums from a Korean artist to remain at the top Billboard 200 album charts. The boys gave a talk in the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations. Kim Nam Joon who’s the leader of BTS tackled the importance of believing in yourself and not giving in to social pressures.
“Some people might not believe but, most people thought we were hopeless, and sometimes I just wanted to quit,” Kim confessed during his speech. “We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to ‘speak yourself. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, gender identity: speak yourself.”
Being prominent figures in K-pop, it’s astounding to see how underdogs such as themselves rose to the ranks of the controversial entertainment industry. They’re more admirable as they not only spread Korean culture, but they have remained grounded regardless of their stardom.
Details of BTS’ awarding ceremony are yet to be released.
Still from Dope MV