Analyze BTS

Several days ago, the news broke that BTS’s appearance on a Japanese music show had been canceled, just hours before the group was set to fly from Korea to Japan. Security and media had already gathered at Korea’s Gimpo airport, preparing for BTS’s departure, but the decision to cancel the TV appearance came before the group could depart. The reason? According to Music Station, the TV show BTS was set to appear on, one of the members had previously worn a shirt with a photo of the atomic bomb after it detonated over Nagasaki in 1945. In a statement regarding the cancellation, Music Station noted that they spoke with BTS’s agency about “the member’s intention in wearing the T-shirt” and in the end “decided to call off their performance.” Bighit later posted an official statement on their Japanese site apologizing for the cancellation of the performance, but not mentioning the use of the T-shirt or any surrounding issues. The T-shirt in question was worn by Jimin during filming for on...

BTS has been deluged with accomplishments, awards, and accolades, and though some of them were quite meaningful and surprising, perhaps the biggest honor they’ve managed to snag recently was the Order of Cultural Merit at the 2018 Korea Popular Culture and Art Awards ceremony. The Order of Cultural Merit is an award given by the President and is meant to recognize those who have served South Korea by promoting its culture and art, thereby increasing awareness and respect for the country’s culture. There are five degrees of the award, each with a different ribbon that signifies to which grade the honor belongs. The BTS members received the fifth grade, known as 화관 (Flower Crown). This makes BTS the only K-Pop group to receive the prestigious honor (PSY, a soloist, received the fourth rank of Jeweled Crown in 2012). For BTS and ARMY, the weight of this award is not lost. Yes, BTS has achieved so much in such a short time, but winning an Order of Cultural Merit is beyond what anyone co...