BTS (Korean: 방탄소년단; Bangtan Sonyeondan; Bulletproof Boy Scouts), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The band consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, who co-write or co-produce much of their material. Originally a hip hop group, they expanded their musical style to incorporate a wide range of genres, while their lyrics have focused on subjects including mental health, the troubles of school-age youth and coming of age, loss, the journey towards self-love, individualism, and the consequences of fame and recognition. Their discography and adjacent work has also referenced literature, philosophy and psychology, and includes an alternate universe storyline.
BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool. BTS released their first Korean and Japanese-language studio albums, Dark & Wild and Wake Up respectively, in 2014. The group’s second Korean studio album, Wings (2016), was their first to sell one million copies in South Korea. By 2017, BTS had crossed into the global music market and led the Korean Wave into the United States, becoming the first Korean ensemble to receive a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their single “Mic Drop”, as well as the first act from South Korea to top the Billboard 200 with their studio album Love Yourself: Tear (2018).
In 2020, BTS became one of the few groups since the Beatles (in 1966–1968) to chart four US number-one albums in less than two years, with Love Yourself: Answer (2018) becoming the first Korean album certified Platinum by the RIAA; in the same year, they also became the first all-South Korean act to reach number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200 with their Grammy-nominated single “Dynamite”. Follow-up releases “Savage Love”, “Life Goes On”, “Butter”, and “Permission to Dance” made them the fastest act to earn four US number-one singles since Justin Timberlake in 2006.
As of 2023, BTS is the best-selling musical act in South Korean history according to the Circle Chart, having sold in excess of 40 million albums. Their studio album Map of the Soul: 7 (2020) is the fourth best-selling album of all time in South Korea, as well as the first in the country to surpass both four and five million registered sales. They are the first non-English-speaking and Asian act to sell out concerts at Wembley Stadium and the Rose Bowl (Love Yourself World Tour, 2019), and were named the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) Global Recording Artist of the Year for both 2020 and 2021. The group’s accolades include multiple American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and nominations for five Grammy Awards.
Outside of music, they have addressed three sessions of the United Nations General Assembly and partnered with UNICEF in 2017 to establish the Love Myself anti-violence campaign. Featured on Time’s international cover as “Next Generation Leaders” and dubbed the “Princes of Pop”, BTS has also appeared on Time’s lists of the 25 most influential people on the internet (2017–2019) and the 100 most influential people in the world (2019), and in 2018 became the youngest recipients of the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit for their contributions in spreading the Korean culture and language.
On June 14, 2022, the group announced a scheduled pause in group activities to enable the members to complete their 18 months of mandatory South Korean military service, with a reunion planned for 2025. Jin, the oldest member, enlisted on December 13, 2022; the others followed in 2023.
BTS Details:
| Also known as | Bangtan Boys, Bangtan Sonyeondan, Beyond the Scene, Bulletproof Boy Scouts |
| Korean name Hangul | 방탄소년단 |
| Korean Name Hanja | 防彈少年團 |
| Japanese Name (Kanji) | 防弾少年団 |
| Japanese Name (Hiragana) | ぼうだんしょうねんだん |
| Members | Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | K-pop, Pop, Hip-hop, R&B, EDM, Disco |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Big Hit, Pony Canyon, Def Jam Japan, Columbia |
| Associated acts | Steve Aoki |
| Debut Song | No More Dream |
| Debut Album | 2 Cool 4 Skool |
| BTS Fandom Name | A.R.M.Y (Adorable Representative MC for Youth) |
| BTS Official Light Stick Color | Silver-Gray |
| Website | bts.ibighit.com |
BTS (Bangtan Boys) Members:
| Stage Name | RM (아르엠), formerly Rap Monster (랩몬스터) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim Nam Joon (김남준) |
| Position | Leader, Main Rapper |
| Birthday | September 12, 1994 |
| Birth Place | Seoul, South Korea |
| Stage Name | Jin (진) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kim Seok Jin 김석진 |
| Position | Sub Vocalist, Visual |
| Birthday | December 4, 1992 |
| Birth Place | Anyang, South Korea |
| Stage Name | Suga (슈가) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Min Yoon Gi (민윤기) |
| Position | Lead Rapper |
| Birthday | March 9, 1993 |
| Birth Place | Daegu, South Korea |
| Stage Name | J-Hope (제이홉) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Jung Ho Seok (정호석) |
| Position | Main Dancer, Sub Rapper, Sub Vocalist |
| Birthday | February 18, 1994 |
| Birth Place | Gwangju, South Korea |
| Stage Name | Jimin (지민) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Park Ji Min (박지민) |
| Position | Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist |
| Birthday | October 13, 199 |
| Birth Place | Busan, South Korea |
| Stage Name | V (뷔) |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kim Tae Hyung (김태형) |
| Position | Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Visual |
| Birthday | December 30, 1995 |
| Birth Place | Daegu, South Korea |
| Stage Name | Jungkook (정국) |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Jeon Jung Kook (전정국) |
| Position | Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Sub Rapper, Center, Maknae |
| Birthday | September 1, 1997 |
| Birth Place | Busan, South Korea |
BTS Name:
BTS stands for the Korean phrase Bangtan Sonyeondan (Korean: 방탄소년단; Hanja: 防彈少年團), which translates literally to ‘Bulletproof Boy Scouts’. According to member J-Hope, the name signifies the group’s desire “to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets”.
In Japan, they are known as Bōdan Shōnendan (防弾少年団). In July 2017, BTS announced that their name would also stand for “Beyond the Scene” as part of their new brand identity. This extended the meaning of their name to encompass the idea of growth “from a boy to an adult who opens the doors that are facing forward”.
BTS Accolades:
BTS has 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.
BTS 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)
BTS Filmography:
Films
- 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)
Online shows
- Run BTS (2015–present)
- BTS In the Soop (2020–2021)
BTS Bibliography:
- Beyond the Story (2023)
BTS Concert tours:
- 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)
BTS Mobile Video Game – BTS World
BTS World is a mobile video game developed by South Korean studio Takeone Company Corp and published by Netmarble. Players take the role of BTS’ manager, going through various journeys with each of the seven members from 2012, prior to their debut, to 2019.
