BTS had a difficult journey to become the successful boy band they are today. After debuting in 2013 with little success, they struggled financially and with their music. Their breakthrough came in 2015 with a hit single in South Korea. In 2017, they made history by winning an award at the Billboard Music Awards, beating out major Western artists. Since then, they have broken many sales records and collaborated with famous Western musicians. BTS has now become a global phenomenon while still singing primarily in Korean. They have also taken on roles as Presidential Envoys promoting important issues. From humble beginnings to international superstars, BTS proves that hard work and perseverance can lead to great success.

1. BTS
A Journey of Failure
to Success

2. so now who is BTS ?

3. Well, every 95 out of 100 may know by their now streaming popularity, they
are arguable the most successful boy band of this generation. There is no
music act or group in the history of the Korean music industry that has been
able to cross over and dominate the international music market like BTS. This
seven-member music group led the Korean Wave into the United States and in
the process broke several sales records. BTS is the first Korean act to reach
number one on the US Billboard 200 with their highly successful album, “Love
Yourself: Tea”.

4. BTS, or Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South
Korean music group. This successful boy band was
formed in Seoul in 2010. They have a popular unique
musical style which encompasses a variety of
genres. Also, they are well known for their lyrics,
which focuses on themes of troubles of school-age
youth, loss, the journey towards loving oneself,
individualism, and mental health. The Bangtan Boys
is the first Korean group to receive a certification
from the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) for their hit single “Mic Drop”.
While this is the very common description hoewver
just like roses has thornes...their journey to success
was a path of thornes leading to a garden of roses.

5. Being a Korean pop Idol is not at easy as many people think. People who
aspire to be idols must get into a company whether it be auditioning or being
scouted. After auditioning/scouted the person must work hard and train for
many years, before they can even debut. And even after debuting their
success is never guaranteed.

6. The boys released their debut single album 2 Cool 4 Skool, on June 12, 2013. This album
was the first installment in their School Trilogy, a series of mini-albums with the theme of
“a defiant teenager”. The lead single “No More Dream”, reached number 124 in Korea the
music chart before falling off the charts. Their second single “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2”
failed to chart and was considered a big flop. 2 Cool 4 Skool sold over 145,000 copies
and was not a hit commercially. The album’s lyrics mainly focused on the criticism of the
society that diminishes their dreams, misunderstanding, and prejudices towards them,
and their worries and readiness to succeed.

7. Around a year after their debut, fans formed an official fan
club called "A.R.M.Y." to support BTS.
Around a year after BTS debuted in 2013, their
official fan club came together. The fan club,
called "A.R.M.Y.," is short for "Adorable M.C.
for Youth."
Jiye Kim teaches at a high school in Sydney,
Australia, during the day but volunteers her
time — sometimes up to 15 hours a day
around an album release — to translate BTS
content in English for fans around the world.
She says she's forged many friendships from
interacting with other fans through social media
and feels that volunteering her time to translate
content is a way of giving back to the
community.

8. After debut BTS did not have it easy, Not only was their company suffering
financially and so were they. All 7 boys had to share one dorm and never had
enough money to hire sets or actors.

9. Their breakthrough happened in two stages:
first in South Korea and then in the US.
Well,....

10. Fans often reference BTS’s first win on South Korean music programme The Show in 2015 as a
huge turning point in their story.
The winning single I Need U not only represented a significant stylistic departure for the boys,
but also earned them widespread recognition.

11. In 2017, the band won the
award for top social artist at
the Billboard Music Awards.
At the time, it was already a
big enough deal that BTS
were invited to the
ceremony. But to beat out
the likes of Justin Bieber,
Selena Gomez and Ariana
Grande? Suddenly, the
mainstream US press could
see that BTS were leading a
phenomenon that deserved
recognition.

12. The South Korean superstars also enlisted some of the West’s biggest artists for various
collaborations, including Nicki Minaj, The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart, Steve Aoki,
Halsey, Becky G, Lauv, Sia, Megan Thee Stallion, Coldplay and many more .
“I’m very lucky to be collaborating with BTS,” Aoki told the Post in an interview last month.
“But it’s like, collaborating with me I don’t think was moving a needle for them, so to
speak. We were just having fun, and it’s making it exciting and colourful and different.”

13. “It’s so powerful that a non-dominant language is globally renowned,” Aoki said.
“[The songs] are almost 90 per cent Korean-based. So it’s an absolute bone chiller
– it makes your hair [stand up] when you realise you don’t need to speak the
dominant language to really get into the hearts and minds of people.”
It is also worth noting that BTS haven’t had to drop their Korean lyricism to find an
American audience.

14. BTS also made history when RM gave a speech at the United Nations last year. He
spoke about his hardships as a young person trying to find himself, and encouraged
young people to find their inner voice. Then he introduced a new concept to the “love
yourself” theme: “speak yourself”.
“The most impressive part of Army is that they practise the ‘Love Myself’ campaign not
simply for their idols but really for themselves,” Choi said.

15. BTS was appointed as the Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture by the
former President of South Korea, Mr. Moon, in 2021. They were awarded with diplomatic
passports and accompanied the President and his wife to the UNGA to give a speech about the
struggles of “the Covid Generation”.
The septet's appointment as Presidential Envoys cemented their position as cultural and
national assets, making them the next generation of leaders.

16. “BTS and Army are not in a hierarchical relationship, with BTS simply providing thoughts to
Army. Rather, they are in a dialectical relationship in which Army also inform BTS about
gender issues, racism and world history. They are growing up together.”
And I truely believe that. Not only they have grown to stardom but have also inspired many
rookkies idols who were and are ARMYs and also other people inside and outside the
fandom to strive for their dreams.

17. Like many K-POP groups before them, BTS has grown to be a true inspiration for
rookie groups. Over their short time in the industry, BTS was able to do things
beyond the expectations of K-POP and make their place in the global music
industry. From a rookie group from a small company to one of the biggest
influences in music worldwide, the boys of BTS have proven to be a powerful force
that only continues to grow.

18. I hope this inspires you as
much as it inspired me and to
not give up and believe in
yourself.