‘BTS army’ mania, explained: Why the K-pop band became so popular
It’s a “Dynamite” time to be a BTS fan.
The South Korean septet became the first K-pop act to be nominated for a Grammy at the 2021 awards show, and they’re up again for that golden gramophone at the 2022 Grammys, held April 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by Trevor Noah.
They’re up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their summer smash “Butter,” which will compete against the likes of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco, Coldplay, and Doja Cat featuring SZA.
And you can bet that the members of the BTS ARMY will be pulling for RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook with all of its explosive might.
ARMY stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youth. The name was chosen by Big Hit Entertainment, the company that launched BTS into the pop stratosphere.
“It is because ARMY exists that we exist,” Jin has said.
Here’s a look at the formidable — and fiercely loyal — fan base behind BTS.
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They make a difference
After BTS and Big Hit Entertainment donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, the ARMY sought to #MatchAMillion through fan charity Twitter account @OneInAnARMY — and they rallied to reach that goal in just 25 hours. Last year, OIAA raised funds for children in South Korean orphanages that were under mandatory quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are even ARMY factions that provide counseling and tutoring services.
They break down language barriers
The ARMY has fan translators, so that BTS’s Korean lyrics, interviews, videos and other content can be understood whether you speak the language or not.
They live on Korean time
Before BTS albums drop in Korea, ARMY members have been known to set their clocks to Korean time, so that they won’t miss a minute of the band’s promotional activities online.
They eat up BTS — in the kitchen, too
The ARMY has gone so far as to share BTS-themed recipes. On the website BTSARMYKitchen.com, you can find a recipe for Jin’s Packed Lunch, which includes rice cakes, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper and toasted seaweed crumbles — with beef stew meat optional.
They’re philosophical
They’re up on Jungian philosophy — based on Carl Jung’s concepts of extravert and introvert personalities, and the power of the unconscious — which has been embraced in BTS albums. The band even named one of their LPs after Jung’s book “Map of the Soul.”
They have their band’s back
When the ARMY grew suspicious that BTS’s TikTok had been hacked this week, they implored Big Hit and TikTok to get to the bottom of it — stat.
They show up — even in the cold
When BTS was appearing on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” to ring in 2020, ARMY members lined up for days around Times Square to show their support.
