From beauty to electrifying performances that have become their trademark, the K-Pop Boy Band, BTS, has raised the bar so far. For a group that racks up 40K retweets for a very short music video of a sleeping member, BTS isn’t just what it seems to us. The seven-member group was formed in 2013 and launched their first studio project Dark and Wild the following year. In 2018, they released three English albums and three Japanese language albums.
Since their debut, many of their songs and albums have entered the market. Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200, and other charts in the United States and their home country of South Korea. The small group made history in 2018 by becoming the first Korean group to have a song certified platinum in the United States. By 2018, BTS had shipped over 10 million albums to Korea, about half of which were in 2018.
How did this band from Korea become world famous? Read on to learn interesting facts about the group and each individual member.
Who are the members of K-Pop boy group, BTS?
Kim Seok-jin (Jin)
Jin is the oldest member of the group. He was one of the first four singers to be auditioned by Big Hit Entertainment to form the BTS Boy Band. Prior to his discovery, he was studying acting at Konkuk University. Along with fellow BTS member V, he wrote the song, It’s Really You. The song was a soundtrack for the historical drama, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea in 2018, Jin ranked as the 11th favorite idol.
Min Yoon-gi (Suga or Agust D)
The BTS rap sensation actually started his music career as a teenager with the stage name Gloss. Suga is from his basketball days, as a short form of Shooting Guard. He is popular for his ability to string words together, with quick rhymes. He also does musical productions. Yoon-gi has helped produce so many award-winning songs by various other artists, even so many BTS songs. He showed some level of activism in his 2016 mixtape, August D. While there, he raised concerns about many issues ranging from mental health to political issues.
Jung Ho-Seok (J-Hope)
Before becoming a member of BTS, J-Hope was a core member of a dance troupe called Neuron. He stands out for his friendly personality and incredible dancing abilities. As a dancer, he won a South Korean national dance competition in 2008. Just like Suga, he also hits the rap a bit. He said he decided to follow J-Hope as his stage name because he wanted to be an icon of hope and light to the world and his fans.
Kim Nam-joon (RM or Rap monster)
RM was the first member of BTS Boy Band, which naturally made him the leader of the group. He was a battle rapper before joining the band, but also did huge collaborations with bands like Wale. He thought he was English watching every episode of Friends. Kim then delivered a speech in English at the United States General Assembly held in New York in September 2018.
Park Ji-min (Jimin)
Ji-min has a penchant for being perfect, but with a caring and loving personality. Before joining BTS, he was admitted to Busan High School of Arts. He became one of the best modern dance students. He later transferred to Korean Arts High School, alongside fellow singer V.
Kim Tae-Hyung (V)
When it comes to R&B, V is the man. His voice is so smooth that he seamlessly navigates through low tempo songs for the band. Amid great vocal dexterity, he also produces songs. Tae-Hyung is a dancer and he is also drawn to photography.
Jeon Jeong-guk (Jungkook)
Jungkook is the youngest member of the BTS group, He had to postpone high school for a year to focus on the group. After auditioning for South Korean talent show, Superstar K, he became one of the most in-demand singers. Among all the offers that came his way, he decided to sign with Big Hit Entertainment. Besides singing, he dances and plays video games in his free time.
Everything you need to know about BTS
The group was launched in 2013
BTS is a South Korean boy group that debuted in 2013. The name of the group comes from a Korean expression Bangtan Sonyeondan, which means Bulletproof Boy Scout. However, in an effort to give the group a new identity, they announced that BTS would become an acronym for Beyond the Stage, in 2017.
They found success early in their career
From the start, they have already been billed for success. Their single, More Dream, won them so many New Artist of the Year awards. The K-Pop group rose to prominence in 2014 with the album, Dark and Wild. The 2015 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Part 2 and their 2016 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever, both reached the US Billboard 200. This latest album would go on to win Album of the Year at the Melon Music Awards in 2016.
In September 2017, they pre-sold over a million copies of their EP, Love Yourself: Her, two weeks before the official release date. 24 hours after its official release, it held No. 1 on the iTunes Chart Chart. This was a huge leap for any South Korean band or artist. The next installment in 2018, Love Yourself: Tear 1.44 million copies were pre-sold within six days of the pre-sale period.
They’re the best boy band since One Direction
BTS has risen in popularity so quickly as one of the Bigorns in the global music industry. Their social media awareness is amazing with over 20 million fans across all their social media networks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). Each of their world tours have been extremely explosive, tickets selling out almost immediately after the sale.
Their popularity was also boosted by the UK split, One Direction in 2015. They stepped up to fill the void left by One Direction, as they pursued their solo careers. They didn’t naturally just step into their shoes, they set the bar high with their impressive outlook, sleek disposition and electrifying performances.
BTS performed at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019
The seven star group BTS stole the show and the hearts of their fans on February 10, 2019 at the 61st Grammy Awards, making the group the first K-Pop group to perform at the Grammys. Everything was perfect – from the tuxedos to the stage presence. They put on an incredible show on their first ever big night at the Grammys.
They nicknamed their fanbase “army”
BTS’ fanbase is called ARMY, which is an acronym for “Adorable Representatives of MC Youth.” They are an integral part of their fame and popularity. The fan base is growing biographyally with advancements being made in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In 2017, BTS became the most tweeted about celebrities, thanks to ARMY.