Who is BTS?

BTS debuted in June 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, now HYBE’s BigHit Music, with the single album “2 Cool 4 Skool” and its lead track “No More Dream.” The seven-member boy band — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — began with a hip-hop-oriented sound and lyrics centered on youth, social pressure and self-identity. The name BTS stands for bangtan sonyeondan in Korean, meaning “bulletproof boy scouts” in English.

After building a loyal fandom, known as ARMY, through active and close fan engagement via social media and early performances, BTS started gaining broader recognition with its third EP “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life PT. 1” (2015), the beginning of a trilogy that redefined the group’s musical and narrative scope.

Since then, BTS has made history with albums including “Wings” (2016), “Love Yourself: Her” (2017), “Love Yourself: Tear” (2018), “Map of the Soul: Persona” (2019), “Map of the Soul: 7” (2020) and “BE” (2020), as well as hits such as “Spring Day” (2017), “Idol” (2018) and “Boy With Luv” (2019). “Love Yourself: Tear” made BTS the first K-pop act to top the Billboard 200 in 2018.

BTS made another major breakthrough in 2020 with “Dynamite,” released during the Covid-19 pandemic, which made the group the first Korean act to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group continued its mainstream success with “Butter” and “Permission to Dance,” both upbeat, easy-listening dance tracks, while “Life Goes On” (2020) became the first song performed predominantly in Korean to top the Hot 100.

After releasing the anthology album “Proof” in June 2022, the members shifted focus on solo work and mandatory military service.

BTS completed its military service beginning with Jin’s enlistment in December 2022 and ending with Suga’s completion of alternative service in June 2025. During the group’s military hiatus, the members continued releasing solo music, including albums and singles from all seven members.

BTS made its long-awaited full-group comeback in March 2026 with its fifth studio album “Arirang,” marking the group’s first album in three years and nine months. The album includes 14 tracks, including the lead single “Swim,” which became BTS’s seventh No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. “Arirang” also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, becoming the group’s seventh No. 1 album on the chart. BTS launched its “Arirang” world tour in April, K-pop’s biggest world tour series ever.

The group has been etching many firsts in Korean history, including earning five Grammy nominations as of 2025, speaking at the UN General Assembly, and becoming the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in 2021. The septet added to its record at the 2026 American Music Awards by winning Artist of the Year for the second time in May.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [[email protected]]