Latest news with #Jimin
News18
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
12 Years Of BTS: Celebrating Their Most Iconic Group Anthems
From early struggles to breaking global records, Korean band BTS has built a legacy beyond music. Widely acclaimed K-pop boy band BTS is officially 12! The group that consists of Jungkook, V, Jimin, Suga, J-Hope, Jin, and RM has become one of the most powerful boy bands in history. BTS made its debut in 2013. From early struggles to breaking global records, the band has built a legacy beyond music. Through unwavering passion, unique composition, and heartfelt lyrics, the band's influence transcended borders and age groups. On the occasion of their 12-year anniversary, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit their journey through one group song from each year: No More Dream (2 Cool 4 Skool) – 2013 The song that started it all – No More Dream – features a rebellious, youthful, and passionate spirit. Putting up the fight against the status quo, the powerful lyrics asked the fans, 'What's your dream?" Danger (Dark & Wild) – 2014 Danger witnessed the group's shift to dealing with confusion and resentment in relationships. With powerful beats and insane choreography, the song beautifully captures the frustration of feeling unseen and unheard. I Need U (The Most Beautiful Moment In Life) – 2015 The song marked the beginning of BTS' HYYH era, which spanned from 2015 to 2016. During this period, their music significantly shifted from an initial hip-hop style to a focus on the struggles and emotions of youth, and I Need U perfectly illustrates the pain of fading love alongside the struggle of growing up. Blood Sweat & Tears (Wings) – 2016 One of the most iconic songs of the band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, showcases themes like desire, sacrifice and temptation. With its gripping music and intense lyrics, the song portrays a story of getting lost and yet finding the strength to keep going. Spring Day (You Never Walk Alone) – 2017 The song highlights the pain of missing a loved one and the quiet ache of longing. The metaphor spring day, used to depict the arrival of spring after a long winter, captures the essence of a long wait finally coming to an end. IDOL (Love Yourself: Answer) – 2018 In this song, the group embraces their true selves and refuses to lose themselves in the middle of everything. 'I'm never going to change; I'm never going to trade" – perfectly highlights this message. Boy With Luv Ft. Halsey (Map Of The Soul: Persona) – 2019 This joyful track is a celebration of love, comfort, life, and connection. The song urges the fans to cherish the little things in life that are often overlooked. Boy With Luv acts as a reminder that love can be found in the quietest moments of our lives. Life Goes On (BE) – 2020 During the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty prevailed, BTS released this comforting track to reassure fans that whatever happens, life will always go on. Permission To Dance (Butter CD) – 2021 Permission To Dance is an ode to letting go and allowing yourself to feel good. The song reminds us that it's okay to take time and hit pause to find joy in difficult times. Yet To Come (Proof) – 2022 Released before the band announced their hiatus due to military enlistment, through this song, the band assured ARMYs that while there may be a short break, the best moments are yet to come. Take Two (Single) – 2023 This song feels like a personal letter to the ARMYs, asking them if they'll stay. Take Two expresses the band's desire to keep going and their promise to return to their fans soon. First Published: June 20, 2025, 14:55 IST
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
K-pop in pixels: Collaborations between K-pop and games grow
Gaming industries' desire to be included in the cultural landscape and K-pop's narrative appeal drive ongoing collaborations From blockbuster franchises to chart-topping idols, gaming and K-pop are increasingly joining forces, as the two converge in a bid to tap into the country's most lucrative entertainment sectors and elevate gaming as a legitimate cultural force. On June 13, Japanese video game company Capcom teased fans with an image titled 'aespa X Street Fighter 6,' shared across the official Street Fighter and Capcom channels. While no additional details were released, the announcement follows online leaks and speculation. The hint emerged through an in-game discovery, where fans spotted an outfit featuring aespa's logo. Although Capcom quickly patched the item out, the official reveal signals that more details are on their way. Meanwhile, Epic Games is teaming up with Hybe for a new Fortnite collaboration. As of June 11, the battle royale's in-game soundtrack includes tracks by Hybe artists, including BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, as well as Enhypen and illit. Players can remix or perform the songs within the game. Epic Games further announced that starting Saturday, the Son Heung-min bundle will drop in Fortnite, allowing players to channel the Premier League star's signature goal celebration pose with themed emotes and gear. Popular American video game developer Blizzard has also been delving deeper into the world of K-pop. In March, Overwatch 2 launched its second collaboration with Le Sserafim, introducing new character skins and a livestream event with the group. The partnership builds on a successful 2023 team-up, which included a custom game mode and skins inspired by the group's hit track 'Antifragile.' Le Sserafim also became the first K-pop act to perform at 2023 BlizzCon, an annual gaming convention held by Blizzard, taking to the stage with their English-language single 'Perfect Night." The hit track, which was produced in collaboration with Overwatch 2, has logged more than 125 million views on YouTube as of Friday. Korean video game publisher Krafton jumped on the bandwagon in March, partnering with YG's girl group Babymonster to mark the 7th anniversary of Battlegrounds Mobile. The limited-time crossover featured themed rewards, emotes choreographed to their single 'Drip' and immersive content such as in-game photo zones. Players could also listen to Babymonster's music while battling on maps like Erangel and Rondo. The growing number of K-pop and gaming crossovers reflects a mutual strategy. For games companies, it's a way to broaden their reach beyond traditional players and lure in a new demographic. Pop culture critics add that gaming companies can also look to shed their subculture image through such collaborations. 'While games have undoubtedly become part of modern culture, public perception still lags behind. Collaborating with mainstream cultural forces such as K-pop allows games to naturally embed themselves into the cultural fabric," said pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun. For the K-pop industry, the narrative-building potential is a major draw, Jung explained. 'Idol groups have their own lore and well-developed characters, just like video games. That makes crossovers rich with storytelling possibilities.' Financial incentives also loom large. 'People often assume other content sectors are more profitable, but gaming eclipses them all (in Korea),' Jung said. 'For the K-pop side, if there's a way to bring gamers into the fan ecosystem, there's no reason not to pursue it.'
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
What to know about BTS as the K-pop group returns from military service
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — It's official — almost. Soon, all seven members of the massively popular K-pop group BTS will have completed South Korea's mandatory military service. Rapper Suga will be the last of the bandmates to be released on Saturday, after fulfilling his duty as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. The six others, RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin and j-hope, served in the army. Earlier this month, four members of BTS — RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook — were discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. Jin, the eldest BTS member, was discharged in June 2024 as was j-hope in October. BTS is expected to reunite later this year. Ahead of that highly anticipated homecoming, here's what you need to know about the group. The rise of BTS BTS — short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or 'Bulletproof Boy Scouts' in Korean — debuted in June 2013 under the company Big Hit Entertainment, now known as HYBE. The seven-member group consists of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook. The group launched in 2013 with the hip-hop heavy single album '2 Cool 4 Skool," releasing three full-length projects before really gaining momentum with their 2016 album 'Wings." Their global breakthrough came in 2017 when 'DNA' entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve such a feat. The song's success was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further fueling their international fan base. The band is largely credited with bringing K-pop to the international stage, and with good reason. Across their discography, BTS broke boundaries and records: In 2020, they released the five-time platinum 'Dynamite,' their first all-English single, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a first for an all-South Korean musical act. At the height of their popularity, BTS was not only the biggest K-pop group on the planet, but the biggest boy band overall. Global appeal In fact, they've been certified platinum many times over, according to The Recording Industry Association of America. Their platinum successes include: — 2018's 'Mic Drop;' — 2020's 'Map of the Soul: 7," 'Love Yourself: Answer,' and 'Idol;' — 2021's 'Be,' and song of the summer 'Butter;' — and high-profile collaborations 'My Universe' with Coldplay and 'Boy With Luv' featuring Halsey. BTS has also been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Their first, for 'Dynamite' in the best pop duo/group performance category, marked the first time a K-pop act received a Grammy nod. As their global popularity grew, the septet also became international advocates for social justice. Their 2018 address to the United Nations General Assembly launched the 'Love Myself' campaign in partnership with UNICEF to combat violence, abuse and bullying while promoting self-esteem among young people. The group's commitment to human rights activism continued in 2020 when they donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, denouncing racial discrimination and violence. Their fan base, known the world over as ARMY, responded by matching the donation within 24 hours. Their dual impact on music and social causes culminated in 2022 when they were invited to the White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes with President Joe Biden. BTS' mandatory military service stirs debate In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea. The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren't subject to such privileges. However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea's National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30. There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group's management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties. Break allows time for solo projects BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for its members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break. Jin released two EPs, 'Happy' in 2024 and 'Echo' in May of this year. Suga dropped his debut solo album, 'D-Day,' in 2023 under his moniker Agust D. Also in 2024, RM released his second solo album, the elastic, experimental 'Right Place, Wrong Person', and j-hope released an EP, 'Hope on the Street Vol. 1." Earlier this year, j-hope embarked on his first solo tour. Jimin released two projects, 2023's 'Face' and 2024's 'Muse.' V's debut album, the smooth alt-R&B 'Layover,' arrived in 2023, as did Jung Kook's retro-pop debut, 'Golden.'
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
팟캐스트 (698) 2년 기다림 끝에 아미 곁으로 돌아온 BTS 지민과 정국
진행자: 박준희, Chelsea Proctor Road to Yeoncheon lined with love as BTS' Jimin, Jungkook are discharged 기사 요약: 그룹 방탄소년단(BTS)의 지민( 정국(전정국)이 1년 6개월간의 군 복무를 마치고 육군 병장으로 만기 전역했다. [1] Just a day after RM and V were discharged from the military, fellow BTS members Jimin and Jungkook stood before a crowd of some 500 fans Wednesday morning at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, marking the end of their 18-month mandatory military service. * discharged: 해제된 * fellow: 동료의 * stand before: ~앞에 서다 * crowd: 사람들, 무리 [2] Wearing their uniforms, the two arrived in a black vehicle and stepped out to a roaring welcome from local and international fans. They saluted and shouted 'Unity!' before offering brief words of thanks, both appearing bashful as they reconnected with their supporters after a long absence. * uniform: 군복 * roaring: 아우성치는 듯한 * salute: 경례를 하다 * reconnect: 다시 연결되다 [3] Jungkook, smiling shyly, said, 'It's been a while since I've stood in front of cameras. I didn't even put on makeup today, so I feel a bit awkward and don't really know what to say.' He added, 'To my fellow soldiers and seniors who finished their service earlier — thank you for enduring everything together with us.' * stand in front of: ~의 앞에 서다 * awkward: 뻘쭘하다 * endure: 참아내다 [4] Despite the early hour, fans from around the world filled the area near the event site, waving banners and fan sticks in support of the two stars. Some even climbed to the low rooftop of the stadium next to the open ground where the two K-pop stars appeared, trying to get a better view of the pair. * despite: ~에도 불구하고 * banner: 현수막 * in support of: ~을 지지하여 * pair: (둘씩) 짝을 짓다
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
BTS Army celebrate group's return from military service by helping Korean adoptees
K-pop megaband BTS are back from military service, and their international fandom – known for its progressive activism – is celebrating by rallying behind a cause: adoptees from South Korea. Advertisement Now Asia's fourth-largest economy and a global cultural powerhouse, the idols' native South Korea remains one of the biggest exporters of adopted babies in the world, having sent more than 140,000 children overseas between 1955 and 1999. The country only recently acknowledged, after years of activism by adult adoptees, that the government was responsible for abuse in some such adoptions of local children, including record fabrication and inadequate consent from birth parents. BTS's fandom, dubbed Army, is known for backing causes like Black Lives Matter and ARMY4Palestine, and launched the #ReuniteWithBTS fundraising project last week to support Korean adoptees seeking to reconnect with or learn about their birth families, which can be a painful and legally tricky process. Jungkook (left) and Jimin of BTS salute for the media and fans shortly after their release from 18 months of South Korean military service. Photo: AFP Almost all the BTS members have completed their mandatory military service , required of all men due to the country's military tensions with North Korea.
