BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, is a seven-member group that has been dedicated to the music world since even before their debut in 2013. Today, they are known worldwide, achieving relevance not only in their country but globally. They are Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, J-Hope, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook. Seven boys who started with just eyeliner, a great leader, and a dream that was slowly but surely coming true, but…

How did BTS pave the way for all K-pop groups in such a short time?

It’s no surprise to many that BTS is the most recognized K-pop group worldwide, and this isn’t because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. On the contrary, in their early days, the seven lived in the same apartment where they trained for hours on end before and after their debut, unaware that soon, due to their success, they would go from having just an apartment to owning most of the assets of their current company (formerly called Big Hit). Many wonder if they truly deserve all that success, but the answer is yes. They had to overcome many obstacles to become who they are today, from handing out flyers for their free concert in America to filling entire stadiums around the world, from living together out of necessity to having their own individual apartments and the most influential company in their native South Korea.

Their hits have accumulated millions and millions of views on YouTube, Spotify, and Melon (a Korean app). Their golden age was especially during the pandemic due to the huge impact of their songs. For example, “Dynamite” holds the group’s most records, including: being the first song by a South Korean group to be nominated for a Grammy, the first song to surpass 100 million views in a single day in YouTube history, and the song with the longest run on the Billboard charts, among others.

Furthermore, considering that BTS are the only Korean acts to have given a speech at the White House, have served as UN ambassadors, and have had songs nominated for Grammys—being the first and ONLY Korean acts to do so—yes, K-pop may have been popular before, thanks to PSY, but it didn’t achieve the necessary impact for most K-pop groups to expand into the US market. Despite their absence due to mandatory military service, BTS remain relevant worldwide, and people are still talking about them.

Today, many South Korean groups acknowledge that thanks to BTS, they have been able to expand into more global markets and gain greater recognition because BTS opened doors. As they and their fans say, they paved the way for all groups without exception.

BTS, in addition to their records, are recognized worldwide for promoting self-love and love for others, respecting our differences and loving ourselves as we are. Their albums, more than just songs, tell stories of overcoming adversity for their fandom, ARMY, and for all their listeners. “Love Yourself” is the name of the concept that aims to encourage self-love, as they have stated on several occasions.

BTS is undoubtedly a role model for many people, including myself, as they always have uplifting songs and promote more than just messages; they convey feelings that other bands like One Direction, 5SOS, or The Beatles also do, but with a unique and unparalleled touch.