• 6 years ago
Continuing our look back at the biggest news stories of 2018.
No one could deny it's been anything other than an unbelievably successful year for K-Pop band BTS.
Over the past twelve months, the seven-member boyband has smashed record after record, and their chart successes led to a series of other achievements.
Seo Eun-kyung reports.

In 2018, the Korean mega group BTS pushed the boundaries of what K-pop can achieve on the world stage.
BTS had two No.1 albums on the Billboard 200, with Love Yourself: Tear in June and Love Yourself: Answer, in September.
This was the first time a K-pop album topped the U.S chart, and also the first time in 12-years that an album in a foreign language achieve such a feat.

"Getting two albums on the Billboard 200 is monumental. And the fact that their singles, Fake Love and Idol, were listed on the Hot 100 singles chart makes it no exaggeration to say that BTS has conquered both the album and the singles chart."

In addition, BTS became the first Korean artists to feature on the cover of the global edition of Time magazine.
Time described the group as "the most popular boy band in the world", and even compared their performances to the Beatles and One Direction.

BTS were also the first ever K-pop artists to address the United Nations, and were invited to help the launch of UNICEF's "Generation Unlimited", an education and employment program for young people.
The band's leader, RM, delivered a speech to the General Assembly and encouraged people to love themselves as they are, reiterating the theme of the group's Love Yourself albums.
An expert says this connection with their fans is a major reason for the band's success.

"BTS have successfully applied various aspects of their lives: sadness, joy and love to their songs, which have drawn their fans' sympathy, strengthening emotional ties between the boy group and their fans."

The group will start a new year on their Love Yourself World Tour with gigs in Japan and Singapore in January, continuing to perform to their fans all over the world.
SEO Eun-kyung, Arirang News.

Recommended