They are known as the most powerful fandom in the world today. They are the driving force behind arguably the biggest boyband on Earth now. They are as much of a phenomenon as the artists they support…A phenomenon now being studied by task forces from South Korea and elsewhere in hopes of recreating something similar.

Some view them with wonder. Some with fear.

But most view them with prejudice.

As an ARMY myself, I have experienced the prejudice and stereotypes that outsiders hold whenever they approach BTS, their music and their fans. In fact, even at home, in workplaces or in schools/colleges, people view us with a stigma often associated with boybands and their fandoms. We are called ‘obsessed’ when we are actually devoted. Outsiders only see us talking about BTS 24/7 when in reality, we are a diverse global family who manages our personal responsibilities while still finding time to promote BTS and their message. Our lives as ARMY is not limited to fangirling/fanboying, but also involve helping one another and the world through numerous humanitarian activities, inspired by the band’s Love Myself and END VIOLENCE campaigns.

(Last month,BTS spoke at the UN General Assembly during the launch of Generation Unlimited, as UNICEF goodwill ambassadors.)

Back in late August, I conducted a survey through my blog’s twitter account, in which around 3500 to 3800 ARMYs participated. The poll questions were aimed at understanding the demographics of the fandom, their relationship with the band and the influence of the band. I had also raised a few questions addressing some misconceptions and misunderstandings the public might have about BTS and the kpop industry.

One may ask ‘why twitter?’. It’s because twitter is both the playground and the battleground for ARMY, where we have an overwhelming presence and active participation that led to BTS being the most tweeted about personality in 2017. It is the platform on which the fandom organizes, communicates, make goals and meet them. It is also the war zone where we defend the boys from racist and xenophobic attacks and from antis, while tirelessly requesting for radio plays in spite of being mercilessly ignored almost all the time by most radio stations ( who are only interested in making twitter polls to pit fandoms against one another for clout).

So what does the survey say?

1. Demographics

All of us aren’t teenage fangirls.

How old are you? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Gender? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Your current employment status? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

2. BTS isn’t a trend

We have been here for sometime..

In fact, majority of us are in our 20s, the same age as BTS members. Maybe this has to do with the kind of music BTS makes – music that speaks for the Youth. In the fandom, you can also find fans who are in 30s , 40s or even in 50s. We have grandparents and grandchildren, people of various gender identities, ethnicity, languages and nationalities.The majority however,are young women.Most people are quick to conclude that BTS ARMY spend their parents’ money to support the band. This is far from the truth. Many of us are employed. Some of us are students with part-time jobs. It’s exactly because the age range of the fandom allows us to have a commendable purchasing power, supplemented with a desire to support the artists who make our daily lives better, that the BTS ARMY was able to help the boys get two number one albums on Billboard 200 this year within a span of hardly 4 months.

Many might fall under the impression that BTS suddenly rose to fame overnight and is therefore just a trend. However, this isn’t the case. Ever since the band was formed in 2013, the size and diversity of the ARMY fandom have seen constant growth, both internationally and domestically. However, 2017 witnessed the biggest ARMY recruitment,thanks to numerous factors such as the release of their album YNWA, the BBMAs,the start of Love Yourself series and their historic stage at the AMAs.



When did you become an ARMY? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

3. We aren’t here for their looks

Their visuals isn’t their selling point.

The ARMY had been a quiet but prominent force until 2016. But as the phenomenon that is BTS began to gain global attention from media, especially in the US (which is the largest and the toughest music industry),the BTS ARMY also became more organized and vocal.

Yes. The boys are remarkably good-looking. But if we were here for their looks, we would be equally devoted to almost all of the groups that the kpop industry churn out daily.

What made you curious about @BTS_twt ? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

You could see pretty faces daily on media and very well forget about them, unless there is something else remarkable. Most ARMYs were prompted to check out BTS not because of their looks or their hype, but because they were impressed by the music or MVs that they happened to listen to or watch. End of the day, any ARMY would tell you that the selling point of the band, or the core reason for their popularity, is their music and the message it carries. To think otherwise only shows a strong prejudice one holds – that exceptional talent and beauty cannot coexist.

What is it about @BTS_twt that finally made you an ARMY? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

While the majority were promoted from being casual listeners to ARMY thanks to the music and message, for a good number it was the personalities of the boys that prompted them to join the family. BTS are a unique septet of humble, hard working, funny, witty and passionate young men who pretty much grew up before our eyes. Through their self-written discography, their vlogs, lives, posts and numerous other content, they have bared their souls before us and taken us along in their journey. As a result, our bond with the boys is not that between an artist and fan, but between human and human. Validating this is the result to what was perhaps the toughest poll :



What is BTS to you? (Please choose the one that applies the best to you) —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

4.Stanning BTS is a personal growth story

We are walking hand-in-hand towards self-improvement.

Our identity as an ARMY strongly aligns with our personal identities. Their voice is ours. And our voice theirs. Their setbacks and success are our own.

BTS have the uncanny ability to attract those who need them. As people say, we find what we seek. Majority of the fandom have common ideologies, visions and perceptions as the boys.



Did you fall for @BTS_twt when you needed them the most in your life? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Has stanning BTS made you a better person? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Antis might call our fandom toxic, and we do have a few bad apples. But we largely have a positive environment that encourages personal growth. The diversity and inclusiveness help us become more socially sensitive and aware. The intricate and interwoven plot line running through their MVs urge us to read,investigate, theorize and discuss together (sometimes, this even brings in new fans, as one participant pointed out).

Has BTS helped in your intellectual growth? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

@underthepeepal @BTS_twt something unique to just BTS. They do not only have amazing music, skillful dancing, beaut… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… —

ella ✿ speak yourself (@kookxbabe) August 29, 2018

Has BTS helped improve your emotional well-being? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Has stanning BTS helped develop your social skills? (Making & keeping connections, networking, communicating, etc) —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

BTS inspire us to pursue our creative interests, resulting in fan fictions, fan arts, song and dance covers, edits, etc..Being part of a global movement requiring our active participation also help us to improve our social skills.

5.We are here specifically for BTS

The success of BTS is not the success of kpop

Kpop is an industry, not a genre as many mistake it to be. Although BTS is technically a part of the industry, they are the biggest anomaly within it.It’s their ‘oddness’- for which they were once brutally shunned by the largely corrupt industry- that made them globally appealing. It’s highly unfortunate that the media equates their success with that of an entire industry.Our fervor,I could boldly claim,is for BTS alone.



Do you love and support Kpop in general or just BTS? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Is BTS different from the rest of the kpop industry? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

If yes, what makes them different? (Please choose one deciding factor that makes them unique) —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

According to you, whose explosion and breakout is happening now? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

In addition to the above polls, I had also asked a few other questions :

Is @BTS_twt the sole reason you are here on this bird app? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Many love to downgrade BTS’ achievements by calling them ‘social media artists’. I strongly believe that while the band did make the best use of social platforms, a lot of of us are active on such platforms only for them.(One might as well ask who actually benefited the most here – BTS or twitter)

Do you think you would be listening to BTS 20 years from now? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Do you like being part of the ARMY fandom? —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

Lately,some companies have been trying really hard to market their groups as the ‘next BTS’.A few of them have also been targeting the ARMY fandom to help their groups break into the US music industry. That prompted me to ask this particular question :



Thank you so much for participating 💜 (Please RT so that as many ARMYs as possible can participate. I cannot use th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… —

The Peepal (@underthepeepal) August 28, 2018

In response to this, I received very remarkable replies.A few of them pointed out that while, in the future, there might come a group as influential as BTS,it will not be a replacement.



@Justinseagull_J @underthepeepal But the question was „will there be another group like bts?“ there was only one MJ… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… —

Anna👻 (@HelloIts_Anna) August 28, 2018

@underthepeepal Never like BTS, but to another generation there will hopefully be that group that touches hearts an… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… —

Jennifer Burris (@jenevieveb75) August 29, 2018

BTS recently completed the North American and the European leg of their Love Yourself World Tour,with all of their concerts sold out in minutes. They were the first Korean act to hold a solo stadium concert in the US, and covered the global edition of TIME magazine as one among the Next Generation Leaders. They were also interviewed at the Grammy Museum (watch the full interview here)Last week,they blessed us with two releases – a free solo album ‘Mono‘ by RM, and a full english feature in Steve Aoki’s brand new single – ‘Waste it on me’ (click here to watch the official lyrical video). The septet also became the first kpop group and the youngest recipients ever to be honored with the highest Cultural Civil award in Korea. Among the many announced and unannounced developments to look forward to, the fandom is the most hyped about ‘Burn The Stage‘ – a documentary of their 2017 WINGS tour and their spectacular rise to global stardom- coming in cinemas worldwide on November 15th this year.

Being an ARMY is a lifetime experience. I’ve never felt so welcomed in a group before. I’ve found equally crazy and passionate individuals like myself. If there is one thing I’ve learnt after discovering BTS and their fandom, it’s the power of grit,perseverance,unity and devotion. When you see a concert picture (such as the one below), we might look like stars making a galaxy. But the truth is, we are a galaxy because of the seven inspiring men who taught us to love ourselves.

Here is one of my favourite tracks from ‘Mono’.I hope it eases your mind just as it did for me.

(please turn the cc on)



Featured image from @eternaldiamond_

A big shout out to all those who participated and shared the poll. I was worried it might not reach many, but it did. Obviously, the survey result is not the final word as the sample size is still small compared to the actual size of the fandom. But I do believe that it reflects the general sentiments of ARMY.

Thank you..and I purple You!💜

-Surya.