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0 / 36 Fotos
Hiatus
- The band had previously announced that they were taking a break in June to focus on their solo careers, though they reunited for a free performance in Busan to support its bid for World Expo 2030. It was shortly after their reunion that they announced they will be carrying out their military service based on their individual plans and solo careers before reuniting once again in three years. Their label Big Hit Music said members of BTS are "honoured to serve" their country and will reconvene "around 2025" following their service commitment, according to a statement made to Sky News.
© Getty Images
1 / 36 Fotos
John Cena is a big fan
- The wrestler told Ellen DeGeneres on April 5 that he was scared to be vulnerable about self-love until BTS released their album 'Love Yourself: Answers' in 2018. He started tweeting his thoughts, and the BTS Army supported him. Now, he's written two new self-love books and says, "These books exist because the BTS army was brave enough to support my vulnerable moment ... I really got to thank K-pop, I got to thank BTS for supporting me in a moment of weakness and turning it into a passion of mine."
© Getty Images
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Time's Entertainer of the Year
- Time Magazine named BTS 2020's Entertainer of the Year.
© Getty Images
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Naming names - Let's start with that name. BTS stands for "Bangtan Sonyeondan," Korean for "Bulletproof Boy Scouts."
© Reuters
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The meaning - Why the name? Member J-Hope (center left) says BTS means "block[ing] out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets."
© Getty Images
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Where BTS began - BTS began after Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, met up with group leader RM (Rap Monster, pictured). The label boss was impressed by the artist's rapping ability.
© Getty Images
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A shoulder to lean on - BTS were going to become a rap group, but Bang Si-hyuk said the youth needed "a hero who can lend them a shoulder to lean on, even without speaking a single word."
© Getty Images
7 / 36 Fotos
Meet the members
- The group lineup was complete in 2012. BTS is made up of Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
© Getty Images
8 / 36 Fotos
Building a fanbase - Before their singles and albums, the group started getting popular thanks to their presence on social media. They uploaded covers to YouTube and Soundcloud.
© Getty Images
9 / 36 Fotos
Not the best start
- Their debut project was '2 Cool 4 Skool,' released in June 2013 with lead single 'No More Dream.' The record didn't sell too well, and the singles didn't take off either.
© Getty Images
10 / 36 Fotos
The show must go on
- Nevertheless, the group persisted with the 'O!RUL8,2?' EP, which performed better. That same month, they starred in their own variety show, performing skits and sketches.
© Getty Images
11 / 36 Fotos
Priming world domination - They finished their "school trilogy" with the 'Skool Luv Affair' EP. Released in February 2014, it was a commercial hit, and their first release on Billboard's World Albums Chart.
© Getty Images
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Two languages, two audiences - A big part of BTS' success is satisfying two audiences with two languages. In 2014, they released their Korean debut album 'Dark & Wild,' and the Japanese-language album 'Wake Up.'
© Reuters
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Touring - The band embarked on their first concert tour from October to December in 2014, with dates in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
© Getty Images
14 / 36 Fotos
BTS getting bigger - BTS broke through with 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,' featuring hit singles 'I Need U' and 'Dope.' The latter racked up over 100 million views, and led to BTS getting their own Twitter emoji and music show.
© Reuters
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More success
- Full steam ahead for BTS. Their 'Young Forever' release won awards and charted in the US, while 'Youth' sold 44,000 copies in a single day in Japan.
© Getty Images
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Breaking records - Back home, their single 'Blood Sweat & Tears' got six million views in a day, breaking the record for a K-pop group. It featured on their album 'Wings.'
© Getty Images
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'Wings' - 'Wings' became the biggest release in the history of South Korea's Gaon Album Chart, as well as the biggest K-pop release in America. It was the first BTS project to sell over a million copies.
© Reuters
18 / 36 Fotos
Beyond the Scene
- To boost their brand, the band began 2017 by announcing that BTS also stood for "Beyond the Scene." More tours and record-breaking releases would follow.
© Getty Images
19 / 36 Fotos
Crashing the charts - 'Spring Day' was a song so popular it crashed a digital chart in South Korea. However, 'DNA' was the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and the best charting from a K-pop group at the time.
© Reuters
20 / 36 Fotos
The biggest Asian album in America - The group followed that with 'Love Yourself: Her,' the highest-charting Asian album in America. Back home, it sold a million copies in a month.
© BrunoPress
21 / 36 Fotos
Breaking through - BTS capitalized on their US success with a performance at the 2017 American Music Awards. Even their Twitter interactions ended up breaking a Guinness World Record.
© Getty Images
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Top Social Artists - The group are famed for their frenzied online fanbase, and have won the Top Social Artist category twice at the Billboard Music Awards. There they debuted new single 'Fake Love' in 2018.
© Reuters
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'Fake Love' - 'Fake Love' is perhaps their most popular song, charting at number 10 on on the US charts. The single supported their album, 'Love Yourself: Tear.'
© Getty Images
24 / 36 Fotos
Big moves from BTS - 'Tear' debuted at number one on the US album charts, making it the highest-selling Asian album ever. It also made the top 10 in the UK.
© BrunoPress
25 / 36 Fotos
BTS at the UN - BTS were guests at the United Nations 73rd General Assembly, there to help launch youth initiatives. RM gave a speech on self-acceptance and their Love Myself campaign.
© Reuters
26 / 36 Fotos
Selling out stadiums - The boy band finished their US tour at Citi Field in New York City. They became the first Korean act to perform at a US stadium, which they sold out in 20 minutes.
© Getty Images
27 / 36 Fotos
More validation - BTS made the cover of Time Magazine in October 2018. They also performed at a "Friendship Concert" in Paris, attended by officials like South Korean president Moon Jae-in.
© Getty Images
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Big bucks with BTS - It's reported that BTS have brought US$4.65 billion to the South Korean economy.
© Getty Images
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A spot of controversy - The group landed in hot water after Jimin wore a T-shirt featuring the US atomic bombing of Japan. A TV performance was cancelled, and the group apologized.
© Reuters
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'Burn the Stage' - BTS made it to the big screen with the release of 'Burn the Stage: The Movie' in November 2018.
© Getty Images
31 / 36 Fotos
One of the world's biggest - In December 2018, BTS were ranked number eight on Billboard's Top Artist Chart. They were the second-highest ranking group, just under Imagine Dragons.
© Getty Images
32 / 36 Fotos
Awards
- BTS made an appearance at the Grammys in 2019, and won big at the Teen Choice Awards.
© Reuters
33 / 36 Fotos
Awards
- While they were unable to attend the ceremony, BTS won three awards at the American Music Awards, including Favorite Duo or Group Pop/Rock, Favorite Social Artist, and Tour of the Year.
© Getty Images
34 / 36 Fotos
AMAs 2021
- Their international success was further recognized at the American Music Awards on November 21. The boys were the most awarded artists of the night, taking home three prestigious honors! They won Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Duo or Group, and Favorite Pop Song for their song 'Butter.' Artist of the Year is the most coveted award and they took to the stage to give a passionate acceptance speech. "This whole thing is a miracle. Seriously, we will never take this for granted," said RM. See also: Busan, South Korea is your next dynamic destination
© Getty Images
35 / 36 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 36 Fotos
Hiatus
- The band had previously announced that they were taking a break in June to focus on their solo careers, though they reunited for a free performance in Busan to support its bid for World Expo 2030. It was shortly after their reunion that they announced they will be carrying out their military service based on their individual plans and solo careers before reuniting once again in three years. Their label Big Hit Music said members of BTS are "honoured to serve" their country and will reconvene "around 2025" following their service commitment, according to a statement made to Sky News.
© Getty Images
1 / 36 Fotos
John Cena is a big fan
- The wrestler told Ellen DeGeneres on April 5 that he was scared to be vulnerable about self-love until BTS released their album 'Love Yourself: Answers' in 2018. He started tweeting his thoughts, and the BTS Army supported him. Now, he's written two new self-love books and says, "These books exist because the BTS army was brave enough to support my vulnerable moment ... I really got to thank K-pop, I got to thank BTS for supporting me in a moment of weakness and turning it into a passion of mine."
© Getty Images
2 / 36 Fotos
Time's Entertainer of the Year
- Time Magazine named BTS 2020's Entertainer of the Year.
© Getty Images
3 / 36 Fotos
Naming names - Let's start with that name. BTS stands for "Bangtan Sonyeondan," Korean for "Bulletproof Boy Scouts."
© Reuters
4 / 36 Fotos
The meaning - Why the name? Member J-Hope (center left) says BTS means "block[ing] out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets."
© Getty Images
5 / 36 Fotos
Where BTS began - BTS began after Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, met up with group leader RM (Rap Monster, pictured). The label boss was impressed by the artist's rapping ability.
© Getty Images
6 / 36 Fotos
A shoulder to lean on - BTS were going to become a rap group, but Bang Si-hyuk said the youth needed "a hero who can lend them a shoulder to lean on, even without speaking a single word."
© Getty Images
7 / 36 Fotos
Meet the members
- The group lineup was complete in 2012. BTS is made up of Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
© Getty Images
8 / 36 Fotos
Building a fanbase - Before their singles and albums, the group started getting popular thanks to their presence on social media. They uploaded covers to YouTube and Soundcloud.
© Getty Images
9 / 36 Fotos
Not the best start
- Their debut project was '2 Cool 4 Skool,' released in June 2013 with lead single 'No More Dream.' The record didn't sell too well, and the singles didn't take off either.
© Getty Images
10 / 36 Fotos
The show must go on
- Nevertheless, the group persisted with the 'O!RUL8,2?' EP, which performed better. That same month, they starred in their own variety show, performing skits and sketches.
© Getty Images
11 / 36 Fotos
Priming world domination - They finished their "school trilogy" with the 'Skool Luv Affair' EP. Released in February 2014, it was a commercial hit, and their first release on Billboard's World Albums Chart.
© Getty Images
12 / 36 Fotos
Two languages, two audiences - A big part of BTS' success is satisfying two audiences with two languages. In 2014, they released their Korean debut album 'Dark & Wild,' and the Japanese-language album 'Wake Up.'
© Reuters
13 / 36 Fotos
Touring - The band embarked on their first concert tour from October to December in 2014, with dates in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
© Getty Images
14 / 36 Fotos
BTS getting bigger - BTS broke through with 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,' featuring hit singles 'I Need U' and 'Dope.' The latter racked up over 100 million views, and led to BTS getting their own Twitter emoji and music show.
© Reuters
15 / 36 Fotos
More success
- Full steam ahead for BTS. Their 'Young Forever' release won awards and charted in the US, while 'Youth' sold 44,000 copies in a single day in Japan.
© Getty Images
16 / 36 Fotos
Breaking records - Back home, their single 'Blood Sweat & Tears' got six million views in a day, breaking the record for a K-pop group. It featured on their album 'Wings.'
© Getty Images
17 / 36 Fotos
'Wings' - 'Wings' became the biggest release in the history of South Korea's Gaon Album Chart, as well as the biggest K-pop release in America. It was the first BTS project to sell over a million copies.
© Reuters
18 / 36 Fotos
Beyond the Scene
- To boost their brand, the band began 2017 by announcing that BTS also stood for "Beyond the Scene." More tours and record-breaking releases would follow.
© Getty Images
19 / 36 Fotos
Crashing the charts - 'Spring Day' was a song so popular it crashed a digital chart in South Korea. However, 'DNA' was the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and the best charting from a K-pop group at the time.
© Reuters
20 / 36 Fotos
The biggest Asian album in America - The group followed that with 'Love Yourself: Her,' the highest-charting Asian album in America. Back home, it sold a million copies in a month.
© BrunoPress
21 / 36 Fotos
Breaking through - BTS capitalized on their US success with a performance at the 2017 American Music Awards. Even their Twitter interactions ended up breaking a Guinness World Record.
© Getty Images
22 / 36 Fotos
Top Social Artists - The group are famed for their frenzied online fanbase, and have won the Top Social Artist category twice at the Billboard Music Awards. There they debuted new single 'Fake Love' in 2018.
© Reuters
23 / 36 Fotos
'Fake Love' - 'Fake Love' is perhaps their most popular song, charting at number 10 on on the US charts. The single supported their album, 'Love Yourself: Tear.'
© Getty Images
24 / 36 Fotos
Big moves from BTS - 'Tear' debuted at number one on the US album charts, making it the highest-selling Asian album ever. It also made the top 10 in the UK.
© BrunoPress
25 / 36 Fotos
BTS at the UN - BTS were guests at the United Nations 73rd General Assembly, there to help launch youth initiatives. RM gave a speech on self-acceptance and their Love Myself campaign.
© Reuters
26 / 36 Fotos
Selling out stadiums - The boy band finished their US tour at Citi Field in New York City. They became the first Korean act to perform at a US stadium, which they sold out in 20 minutes.
© Getty Images
27 / 36 Fotos
More validation - BTS made the cover of Time Magazine in October 2018. They also performed at a "Friendship Concert" in Paris, attended by officials like South Korean president Moon Jae-in.
© Getty Images
28 / 36 Fotos
Big bucks with BTS - It's reported that BTS have brought US$4.65 billion to the South Korean economy.
© Getty Images
29 / 36 Fotos
A spot of controversy - The group landed in hot water after Jimin wore a T-shirt featuring the US atomic bombing of Japan. A TV performance was cancelled, and the group apologized.
© Reuters
30 / 36 Fotos
'Burn the Stage' - BTS made it to the big screen with the release of 'Burn the Stage: The Movie' in November 2018.
© Getty Images
31 / 36 Fotos
One of the world's biggest - In December 2018, BTS were ranked number eight on Billboard's Top Artist Chart. They were the second-highest ranking group, just under Imagine Dragons.
© Getty Images
32 / 36 Fotos
Awards
- BTS made an appearance at the Grammys in 2019, and won big at the Teen Choice Awards.
© Reuters
33 / 36 Fotos
Awards
- While they were unable to attend the ceremony, BTS won three awards at the American Music Awards, including Favorite Duo or Group Pop/Rock, Favorite Social Artist, and Tour of the Year.
© Getty Images
34 / 36 Fotos
AMAs 2021
- Their international success was further recognized at the American Music Awards on November 21. The boys were the most awarded artists of the night, taking home three prestigious honors! They won Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Duo or Group, and Favorite Pop Song for their song 'Butter.' Artist of the Year is the most coveted award and they took to the stage to give a passionate acceptance speech. "This whole thing is a miracle. Seriously, we will never take this for granted," said RM. See also: Busan, South Korea is your next dynamic destination
© Getty Images
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BTS: The story behind the biggest band in the world
BTS' Jin begins military service, shares photo of buzz cut: "Cuter than I thought"
© Getty Images
BTS is the biggest musical group in the world, no question. The seven-man boy band are based in South Korea, but have taken over the world since their formation in 2013. Singles like 'Fire' and 'Dynamite' have been streamed billions of times, and have sat atop of charts around the world. What's more, their influence goes beyond music, with huge contributions to South Korea's economy and global image.
And the band is taking their contributions one step further as the oldest member of the group, Jin, begins his obligatory military service in South Korea on December 13. All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 in South Korea must perform between 18 and 21 months of military service, but BTS, along with K-pop stars who boosted the prestige of the country, were granted a delay in service until the upper age bracket of 30. Jin, who turned 30 on December 5, is the first to go and the first to get his buzz cut, which he joked with fans on the Korean app Weverse is "cuter" than expected, reports People.
Even amid a global crisis, members of BTS continued to release new music, set new records, and deepen bonds with their international fanbase, called ARMY. Click on to find out more about this incredible group.
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