BTS (방탄소년단)

Who is BTS (방탄소년단; Bangtan Boys)?

BTS (방탄소년단), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band that debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. Formed in 2010, the group consists of seven members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Known for co-writing and co-producing much of their music, BTS initially began as a hip hop group but later diversified their sound to encompass a variety of genres. Their lyrics explore themes such as mental health, youth struggles, self-love, individualism, and the challenges of fame. They also reference literature, philosophy, and psychology, with some of their work featuring an alternate universe storyline.

BTS released their debut single album, 2 Cool 4 Skool, in 2013, followed by their first studio albums in 2014: Dark & Wild (Korean) and Wake Up (Japanese). Their second Korean studio album, Wings (2016), was a major milestone, becoming the group’s first album to sell over a million copies in South Korea. By 2017, BTS had achieved international success, breaking into the global music scene and becoming the first Korean group to receive a Gold certification from the RIAA for their single “Mic Drop.” They also became the first South Korean act to top the Billboard 200 with their album Love Yourself: Tear (2018). In 2020, BTS made history as the fastest group to chart four number-one albums in the US, a feat previously held by The Beatles. That year, their single “Dynamite” also became the first Korean song to top the Billboard Hot 100, and BTS made history again as the first all-South Korean group to top the Billboard Global 200.

By 2023, BTS had sold over 40 million albums, making them the best-selling music act in South Korean history, according to the Circle Chart. Their album Map of the Soul: 7 (2020) became the fourth best-selling album in South Korea and was the first to exceed both four and five million registered sales. BTS also broke records by becoming the first non-English-speaking and Asian act to sell out major venues such as Wembley Stadium and the Rose Bowl during their Love Yourself World Tour in 2019. In addition to their musical achievements, BTS has won numerous awards, including American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Golden Disc Awards. They have also been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

BTS has had a significant cultural impact, addressing the United Nations General Assembly three times and partnering with UNICEF in 2017 to launch the Love Myself anti-violence campaign. The group has been featured on Time’s cover as “Next Generation Leaders” and earned titles such as “Princes of Pop.” They were named to Time‘s lists of the 25 most influential people on the internet (2017-2019) and the 100 most influential people in the world (2019). In 2018, BTS became the youngest recipients of the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit for their role in spreading Korean culture globally.

On June 14, 2022, BTS announced a break from group activities to fulfill their mandatory South Korean military service, with plans for a reunion in 2025. Jin, the eldest member, began his service on December 13, 2022, with the other members following in 2023.

Quick Details

Also known asBangtan Boys, Bangtan Sonyeondan, Beyond the Scene, Bulletproof Boy Scouts
Other langusges name방탄소년단 (Hangul); 防彈少年團 (Hanja); 防弾少年団(Kanji); ぼうだんしょうねんだん (Hiragana)
MembersJin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop, Pop, Hip-hop, R&B, EDM, Disco
Years active2013–present
LabelsBig Hit, Pony Canyon, Def Jam Japan/Universal Music Japan, Columbia, Universal, Geffen
Debut SongNo More Dream
Debut Album2 Cool 4 Skool
BTS Fandom NameA.R.M.Y (Adorable Representative MC for Youth)
BTS Official Light Stick ColorSilver-Gray
Social media linksWebsite, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok,

Name

BTS stands for the Korean phrase Bangtan Sonyeondan (방탄소년단; Hanja: 防彈少年團), which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts.” According to J-Hope, the name represents the group’s mission “to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations aimed at adolescents like bullets.” In Japan, the group is known as Bōdan Shōnendan (防弾少年団). In 2017, BTS introduced an additional meaning for their name: “Beyond the Scene.” This new interpretation reflects their evolution, symbolizing the transition from a boy to an adult who breaks through the barriers in front of him, representing growth and progress.

BTS Members

RM (BTS) Photo
Stage NameRM (아르엠), formerly Rap Monster (랩몬스터)
Real NameKim Nam Joon (김남준)
PositionLeader, Main Rapper
BirthdaySeptember 12, 1994
Birth PlaceSeoul, South Korea
Jin (BTS) Photo
Stage NameJin (진)
Real NameKim Seok Jin 김석진
PositionSub Vocalist, Visual
BirthdayDecember 4, 1992
Birth PlaceAnyang, South Korea
Suga (BTS) Photo
Stage NameSuga (슈가)
Real NameMin Yoon Gi (민윤기)
PositionLead Rapper
BirthdayMarch 9, 1993
Birth PlaceDaegu, South Korea
J-Hope (BTS) Photo
Stage NameJ-Hope (제이홉)
Real NameJung Ho Seok (정호석)
PositionMain Dancer, Sub Rapper, Sub Vocalist
BirthdayFebruary 18, 1994
Birth PlaceGwangju, South Korea
Jimin (BTS) Photo
Stage Name Jimin (지민)
Real NamePark Ji Min (박지민)
PositionMain Dancer, Lead Vocalist
BirthdayOctober 13, 199
Birth PlaceBusan, South Korea
V (BTS) Photo
Stage NameV (뷔)
Full NameKim Tae Hyung (김태형)
PositionLead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Visual
BirthdayDecember 30, 1995
Birth PlaceDaegu, South Korea
Jungkook (BTS) Photo
Stage NameJungkook (정국)
Real NameJeon Jung Kook (전정국)
PositionMain Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Sub Rapper, Center, Maknae
BirthdaySeptember 1, 1997
Birth PlaceBusan, South Korea

Career

BTS (방탄소년단) Photo

BTS was formed in 2010 by Big Hit Entertainment CEO Bang Si-hyuk, who wanted to create a hip hop group centered around RM, a well-known underground rapper from Seoul. However, as album sales were declining, Bang saw the potential of idol groups with loyal fanbases and live performances. Many trainees resisted the idea of becoming idols, but RM, J-Hope, and Suga stayed on. Bang’s vision was to break away from traditional idol groups, allowing members to express their individuality. Auditions were held in 2010, and after rigorous practice, BTS debuted in 2013 with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool and the lead single “No More Dream.”

Although their debut didn’t sell well initially, “No More Dream” struck a chord with young people, addressing anxieties and societal pressures, a theme not often tackled in K-pop. The album reached the top five on South Korea’s Gaon Music Chart, and BTS’s raw approach to sensitive topics set them apart. Following this, they released O!RUL8,2? in September 2013, continuing their “school trilogy” with the single “N.O.,” which further explored the frustrations of students feeling pressured to abandon their dreams. Their honest and rebellious themes gained them a strong following, especially among youth in North America and Europe. By the end of the year, BTS had earned multiple New Artist of the Year awards in South Korea.

BTS released the final entry in their “school trilogy,” Skool Luv Affair, in February 2014. The EP topped the Gaon Album Chart and marked BTS’s first appearance on Billboard’s World Albums Chart, peaking at number three. The release featured the singles “Boy in Luv” and “Just One Day.” Following this, BTS held their first fan meeting in Seoul and named their fan club A.R.M.Y. They also performed their first US concert in West Hollywood and appeared at KCON Los Angeles in 2014.

In August 2014, BTS released Dark & Wild, which reached number two in South Korea. It was followed by two singles, “Danger” and “War of Hormone,” and their first concert tour, 2014 BTS Live Trilogy Episode II: The Red Bullet. BTS also launched their first Japanese album, Wake Up, which peaked at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart. The Red Bullet tour, spanning several continents, attracted 80,000 spectators across 18 cities.

In 2015, BTS expanded their musical range with The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1, which focused on youth and its challenges. The album’s single “I Need U” became a hit, and “Dope” reached number three on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. They also extended their Red Bullet tour globally. BTS’s Japanese single “For You” topped Oricon’s daily chart, and in November, their third tour, 2015 BTS LIVE “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: On Stage”, marked the debut of their fourth EP, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2, which explored the struggles of youth and society. The album topped the Gaon and Billboard World Albums charts and marked their first appearance on the Billboard 200.

The compilation album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever was released in May 2016, winning Album of the Year at the 2016 Melon Music Awards. BTS’s Asia tour extension sold out in record time, further solidifying their success. In September 2016, they released their second Japanese studio album, Youth, which sold 44,547 copies on its first day and was certified Gold. In October, BTS dropped Wings, blending themes of youth with temptation and adversity. The album’s success marked a milestone, topping charts globally and becoming the best-selling album in Gaon Album Chart history.

In February 2017, BTS released You Never Walk Alone, a repackaged edition of Wings, which sold 1.49 million copies in its first month, breaking records in South Korea. The lead single, “Spring Day,” won Best Song of the Year at the 2017 Melon Music Awards. BTS began their second world tour, The Wings Tour, in February, playing sold-out arenas in the US. The group made history at the Billboard Music Awards in May, winning Top Social Artist, the first K-pop group to do so, thanks to over 300 million votes from fans.

In July 2017, BTS released a remake of Seo Taiji’s “Come Back Home,” and later that year, they launched the “Love Yourself” series. Their fifth EP, Love Yourself: Her, released in September, introduced the lead single “DNA,” which was seen as a new direction for the group. The EP debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and topped the Gaon Chart, surpassing 1.2 million copies sold. “DNA” made history by charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 85, marking BTS’s first entry there. The remix of “Mic Drop,” featuring Desiigner, reached number 28, breaking new ground for K-pop on the US charts.

BTS made their American Music Awards debut in November 2017 and won Artist of the Year at the 19th Mnet Asian Music Awards. They also released a single album in Japan featuring “DNA,” “Mic Drop,” and “Crystal Snow,” which topped the Oricon Chart. The album was certified Double Platinum in Japan, making it the only album by a foreign artist to achieve this in 2017.

In addition to their musical achievements, BTS partnered with UNICEF for the “Love Myself” campaign, aimed at promoting self-esteem and ending violence, abuse, and bullying among young people. The campaign saw success, with Big Hit and BTS contributing funds and promoting the cause at concerts.

In January 2018, BTS won major awards at the Golden Disc and Seoul Music Awards. In March, they premiered Burn the Stage, an eight-episode documentary on YouTube Premium, providing a behind-the-scenes look at their Wings tour. Their third Japanese studio album, Face Yourself, released in April, quickly reached the top 5 of the U.S. iTunes Albums chart. The group also released a short film titled Euphoria: Theme of “Love Yourself: Wonder”, which featured the song “Euphoria” and served as a prelude to Love Yourself: Tear.

Love Yourself: Tear debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it BTS’s first number-one album in the U.S. and the first K-pop album to top the chart. The lead single “Fake Love” became their first top-10 song on the Billboard Hot 100. BTS released Love Yourself: Answer in August 2018, which sold over 1.9 million copies and became their second number-one album on the Billboard 200. “Idol” and Love Yourself: Answer both received Platinum certifications in the U.S.

BTS began their Love Yourself world tour in August 2018, with tickets for concerts in Seoul and other cities selling out in seconds. In October, they released “Waste It on Me” with Steve Aoki, their first all-English collaboration. Their performance at Citi Field in New York City marked their first stadium concert in the U.S., selling out in 20 minutes.

In November 2018, BTS faced controversy after a Japanese music show canceled their performance due to a T-shirt worn by a member in 2017, which depicted a photograph of a mushroom cloud from the bombing of Nagasaki. The issue sparked criticism, but BTS and Big Hit Entertainment issued an apology, clarifying that the image was not intended to be disrespectful. The apology was accepted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Korean Atomic Bomb Victim Association.

BTS continued to earn recognition, winning Artist of the Year at the 20th Mnet Asian Music Awards and ranking as the number eight artist on Billboard’s year-end Top Artist chart. They were also named one of Bloomberg’s 50 most influential people for addressing social issues, mental health, and politics.

In February 2019, BTS presented at the Grammy Awards for the first time. The group was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2019. Their EP Map of the Soul: Persona was released in April, featuring the hit single “Boy with Luv” featuring Halsey. The EP topped charts globally, becoming the first Korean-language album to reach number one in the UK and Australia, and the best-selling album ever in South Korea with over 3.2 million sales in under a month. “Boy with Luv” debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a historic achievement for K-pop.

In May 2019, BTS won two awards at the Billboard Music Awards, including Top Duo/Group. They embarked on their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself world tour, adding more shows due to high demand. Throughout the year, they released several songs, including collaborations with Charli XCX, Zara Larsson, and Juice Wrld, and broke sales records in Japan with their single “Lights.” In August, BTS became the first artists in history to win grand prizes in both the physical and digital categories at the Golden Disc Awards.

BTS continued to break records in 2019, topping multiple charts, including the US Billboard 200, and was ranked as the third top-grossing touring musical act of the year. They were also named the third best-selling album of 2019 by the IFPI, cementing their place as one of the best-selling artists in the world.

In January 2020, BTS released the single “Black Swan” as the first preview of Map of the Soul: 7. Later, they performed at the Grammy Awards, making history as the first Korean act to do so. Map of the Soul: 7 debuted with over 4 million pre-orders, and the album quickly topped the Billboard 200, with the single “On” reaching number four on the Hot 100. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their Map of the Soul tour was postponed.

In 2020, BTS set new records, becoming the first K-pop artist to sell over 20 million albums, and performed multiple online concerts, including the Bang Bang Con: The Live, which broke viewership records. They released their first English-language single, “Dynamite,” in August, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and made them the first all-South Korean act to do so. They also performed live at the MTV Video Music Awards, winning multiple awards, including Best Group and Best Choreography.

BTS continued their success with “Savage Love” (Remix), which also topped the Hot 100, and their album Be in November, with the single “Life Goes On” debuting at number one. They became the first Korean pop artists nominated for a Grammy, earning a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Dynamite.” Their influence continued to grow as they capped off a historic year for both BTS and Korean culture.

In March 2021, BTS was named Global Recording Artist of the Year by the IFPI, becoming the first non-English-speaking act to top the ranking. The group also placed three albums on the Global Album Sales Chart, with Map of the Soul: 7 at number one, Be (Deluxe Edition) at number two, and Map of the Soul: 7–The Journey at number eight. Their performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards made them the first Korean act to perform at the ceremony, although they did not win the award.

BTS released “Butter” on May 21, 2021, which debuted at number one on the Hot 100, making them the fastest act to earn four number-one hits in a short time. They followed this with their second English-language single, “Permission to Dance,” on July 9. BTS collaborated with Coldplay on “My Universe,” which also debuted at number one on the Hot 100.

The group continued with virtual concerts and performances throughout 2021, including their Permission to Dance on Stage concert series. In January 2022, BTS released a webtoon, 7Fates: Chakho, which became the most-viewed title on Webtoon. They also performed limited-capacity concerts at Seoul Olympic Stadium in March 2022, marking a return to in-person performances since the pandemic began.

BTS’s 2022 activities were affected by the announcement of a temporary break to focus on solo projects. However, they clarified that they would still participate in group activities. In October 2022, the band held a benefit concert in Busan and confirmed Jin’s enlistment in the military. Other members planned to enlist in the following years, with a reunion expected in 2025.

In 2023, the group released the Yet to Come in Busan concert film, and individual members began their military service. BTS also confirmed the renewal of their contracts, solidifying plans for a reunion and future projects post-service. Jin became the first member to complete his service in June 2024.

Discography

Korean-language studio albums

  • Dark & Wild (2014)
  • Wings (2016)
  • Love Yourself: Tear (2018)
  • Map of the Soul: 7 (2020)
  • Be (2020)

Japanese-language studio albums

  • Wake Up (2014)
  • Youth (2016)
  • Face Yourself (2018)
  • Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey (2020)

Filmography

  • Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
  • Love Yourself in Seoul (2019)
  • Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
  • Break the Silence: The Movie (2020)
  • BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – LA (2022)
  • BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas (2023)

  • Run BTS (2015–present)
  • BTS In the Soop (2020–2021)
  • BTS: Bon Voyage (2016–present)

Tours and Concerts

  • The Red Bullet Tour (2014–2015)
  • Wake Up: Open Your Eyes Japan Tour (2015)
  • The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage Tour (2015–2016)
  • The Wings Tour (2017)
  • Love Yourself World Tour (2018–2019)
  • Map of the Soul Tour (2020; cancelled)
  • Permission to Dance on Stage (2021–2022)

Awards & Nominations

BTS have received numerous awards throughout their career. They have consecutively won the Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist since 2017; are the only K-pop group to win Top Duo/Group, at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards; and are the most-awarded group in BBMA history as of 2022, with 12 wins overall. BTS are also the only K-pop group to win Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock and Favorite Social Artist at the American Music Awards, and became the first Asian act in the show’s history to win Artist of the Year in 2021.

They are the first Korean pop act to receive a Grammy Award nomination, and the first Korean artist to be nominated for a Brit Award. With 30 awards overall, including a record four consecutive wins for Artist of the Year (Asia), BTS are the most-awarded foreign artist in the history of the Japan Gold Disc Awards. They have also received a total of 50 trophies at the MAMA Awards.

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