Photography via Instagram/thebangtanboys

Who is BTS? 7 Things You Need to Know About K-Pop’s Biggest Boy Group

Since PSY’s “Gangnam Style” broke YouTube records and made its way onto the Top 40 charts (and every wedding playlist), we’ve been keeping a close eye on the Korean music scene. After the surprising turn of events at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards—that is K-Pop band BTS lighting up social media and taking home Top Social Artist—it looks like there is a new K-force to be reckoned with.

Formed by South Korean record label Big Hit Entertainment, BTS is short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to “bulletproof boy scouts.” Since their debut in 2013, the seven-member group has been dominating Korean charts time after time. Case in point: Their most recent song, “Not Today,” broke records by garnering 10 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.

However, with success comes haters. Some people were very unhappy about the K-pop sensation winning the 2017 Billboard Music Top Social Artist and asked how boys with makeup beat “actual famous people.” Well, let me break it down for you. First, BTS’s fan club made it their mission in life to ask the award show to personally invite the members to the U.S to acknowledge that they were the first K-pop group to be nominated for a Billboard award. The result? BTS beat Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes by a mile (but really, 300 million votes). Oh, the power of social media.

Needless to say, BTS is kind of a big deal right now. But in case you’re unfamiliar with the group, let us bring you up to speed. Here are seven things you need to know about the biggest boy group in K-pop right now.

#방탄소년단 3rd Anniversary🎉 – ©facebook | @bts.bighitofficial – BTS official instagram A post shared by BTS (@thebangtanboys) on Jun 12, 2016 at 8:33am PDT

There are 7 members and they all have different roles.

Rapmon (a.k.a Rap Monster) is the leader and the main rapper of the group.

Suga is the lead rapper.

Jin (a.k.a #thirdonefromtheleft) is the vocalist and “visual” (read: the most “aesthetically beautiful” member of the group).

Jimin is the lead vocalist and main dancer.

V is the vocalist.

J-Hope is the main dancer and rapper.

Jungkook is the group’s youngest member and known as the #GoldenMaknae because he can do all of the above. #truth

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Their fans call themselves the A.R.M.Y., and you don’t want to mess with them.

There is probably no fan club as devoted and loyal as the A.R.M.Y (well, maybe the Beyhive). Proving how powerful a social following can be, the A.R.M.Y, which stands for Adorable Representative M.C for Youth, tweeted out the #BTSBBMAs over 300 million times since the voting period date started on May 1. Making history, the Army beat out Beliebers, Selenators and Arianators at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and clapped back when haters posted ignorant tweets.

They write their own socially conscious music.

BTS isn’t your average K-pop group. Making sure they put out music they want, Rapmon, Suga and J-hope write and produce many of their chart-topping singles, which hold powerful messages, including “21st Century Girls” (female empowerment), “Not Today” (the struggles of youth), “Spring Day” and “Run”, the latter two touching upon the topic of mental health. Their catchy tunes helps, too.



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They also have the coolest dance numbers.

With catchy tunes come sick dance moves. There’s no doubt K-pop groups have the most intricate and most in-sync dance numbers, hands down. Proof? See below.

Rapmon taught himself English by watching Friends.

The BTS leader is the unofficial English rep of the group. While a lot of Twitter trolls remarked that they couldn’t understand Rapmon when he made his acceptance speech, he practised English via watching countless episodes of Friends.

“Friends was really famous for the mothers in Korea for English education,” says Rap Monster in a former interview with The Orange County Register. “It was kind of like a syndrome. Korean mothers make their kids watch Friends even when they were eating food or playing. I think it really helped. It has like 10 seasons, I think, and I watched it like more than five times through the 10 seasons. They use the gestures and expressions, like, Americans use, right? I think that naturally teaches me how to speak or how to make a gesture when you try to express some emotions.”

Their style and beauty game is always on point.

I can’t talk about a K-pop group without shining a light on their A+ beauty game. From the perfect mulgwang (read: dewy, glowing skin) to eyeliner to coloured contacts, BTS has a better beauty regimen than I do. And don’t get me started on their hair. From bubblegum pink to mint green, the BTS boys have rocked it all. Meanwhile, in the fashion department, their airport style is always on point. But for their first American red carpet event, we have to say the boy group did not disappoint with their their coordinated black suit looks.

Halo 2017 A post shared by BTS (@thebangtanboys) on Dec 31, 2016 at 8:49am PST

170522 Suga – at #BBMAs 👑 #BTSBBMAs A post shared by BTS SUGA 민윤기 (@yoongiebighit) on May 23, 2017 at 10:39am PDT

161015 #WINGS A post shared by BTS (@thebangtanboys) on Oct 15, 2016 at 5:24am PDT

They have a celebrity following.

Aside from PSY, artists like Charlie Puth, Chainsmokers and Halsey have shown their love and support for the boy group.

Love these dudes! See you guys this summer @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/i5TPqGGdzO — THE CHAINSMOKERS (@TheChainsmokers) May 21, 2017

ok i just met @BTS_twt and they are the coolest! 🙏🏼🌺🌸 WOW — h (@halsey) May 21, 2017

BTS, the love is mutual.