How BTS paved the way for Korean boy bands

By Carmela Calling

Boy band BTS is one of the most well-known exports from the Korean pop industry to the international audience, with their popularity having paved the way for many other K-pop groups’ ascent to global stardom.

Over the years, multiple boy bands have appeared across the globe. Tracing its history, the evolution began with The Beatles, moving to 90s and 2000s icons such as The Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC, then to One Direction, and finally to South Korean boy groups.

Bulletproof Boy Scouts

Kicking off the wave of Korean-pop songs, BTS, an acronym for the Korean word Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” was formed in 2010.

Big Hit Entertainment Chief Executive Bang Si-hyuk wanted to create a hip-hop band, which led to the recruitment of the first member, Kim Nam-joon, also known by his stage name RM or Rap Monster.

Kim was an underground rapper in Seoul.

Following him, six more members were chosen— Kim Seok-jin (Jin), Jung Ho-seok (J-hope), Min Yoon-gi (Suga), Park Ji-min (Jimin), Kim Tae-hyung (V), and Jeon Jung-kook.

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In 2014, BTS released their first full-length album, “Dark and Wild.”

According to early interviews, the boys wrote their own lyrics, addressing social issues and focusing on themes such as self-love, individuality and empowerment. However, their record sales were in decline, and digital revenues were not yet high enough to compensate.

Despite not being noticed even by local audiences, the group stayed committed to pursuing their passion.

Global stardom

By 2016, BTS’s popularity had increased and seemed to soar with every new track. They began their first world tour, and their album “Life, Part 2” rose to number one on six international music charts.

It then continued with their “Wings” album, becoming the group’s first album to debut on both the Canadian Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 charts.

Since then, each success has led to the next, which has made them one of the most successful music groups in the world.

There has always been a heated argument by music fans over the course of BTS’s fame. Some argue that they are overrated, while others see them as the most famous boyband of all time. But in reality, BTS is simply a group of people who dream big and achieve their goals through hard work.

One thing they can be proud of is that they have removed barriers to Korean artists reaching the larger international market. And if you ask their fans how they discovered them, it usually involves a BTS song or two.

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