If you have ever thought you’d like to learn a new language or are looking for something engaging to do during the long days of COVID-19 self-isolation, the Korean band BTS has come to the rescue with the launch of a video series designed to teach Korean to the world.
The popular group, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band, whose members formed in Seoul in 2010 as teenagers. Originally starting as a hip hop group, their musical style has evolved to encompass various genres, and they hold a Guinness World Record for the most Twitter engagements. Their 2020 album, Map of the Soul: 7, is the best-selling album in Korean history, positioning them as the second best-selling artists of 2018 worldwide according to the IFPI’s Global Artist Chart, while also being the only non-English speaking artists to grace the chart.
The band’s management, Big Hit Entertainment, recently announced the launch of a video series called “Learn Korean with BTS” on the social media app Weverse. Bang Si-Hyuk, the CEO, explained that this project emerged in response to fans requesting English subtitles for the band’s videos. Consequently, this initiative aims to provide fans with a more rewarding and immersive experience, enabling those who have difficulty enjoying BTS’s music and content due to language barriers to join in the fun.
The project consists of 30 three-minute lessons detailing Korean expressions and grammar. These lessons were developed with the input of experts at the Korean Language Content Institute and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The first three episodes launched on 24 March, with additional videos scheduled for weekly release. These lessons utilize clips from the band’s reality TV series, “Run BTS!” and their YouTube programming.
BTS has also shared a YouTube video expressing gratitude towards medical workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic while encouraging fans to practice social distancing.
