A million tune in to see K-Pop icons speak on UN stage
Legions of BTS fans flooded the channel with their signature purple heart emoji
They took over the chat so fiercely during the K-Pop icons’ speech and video performance that other users chimed in to remind them to be respectful of the meeting of global leaders.
Nearly 1 million people tuned into what felt like the hottest event on the Internet Monday: A speech at the United Nations General Assembly meeting — that is, a speech by the K-Pop superstar boy band BTS.
Legions of BTS fans, a hyper-organised online community that can mobilise in an instant, flooded the United Nations’ official YouTube channel yesterday with their signature purple heart emoji, along with tons of crying emoji, thumbs-up emoji and every other heart emoji available — as the band promoted their generation and encouraged the use of vaccines.
They took over the chat so fiercely during the KPop icons’ speech and video performance that other users chimed in to remind them to be respectful of the meeting of global leaders, who had gathered to discuss sustainability.
But the BTS army ploughed forward, amplifying the band’s message of hope and the power of those in their teens and 20s to shape the future, from climate change to digital interconnectedness.
The seven members — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook — relayed the experiences of the younger generation, and how their views about their future paths were being shaped by the pandemic. Their younger fans in their teens and in their 20s have spent nearly two years in the pandemic learning new things online, connecting with each other on a deeper level, and studying up on issues like climate change and how they can make a difference, the band members said.
Positive world
They said they hope that their generation would be appreciated for their ability to create a positive and healthy world through their online communities, rather than as victims of lost opportunities due to the pandemic.
“I’ve heard that people in their teens and 20s today are being referred to as Covid’s lost generation,” said RM. “I think it’s a stretch to say they’re lost, just because the path they tread can’t be seen by grown-up eyes.”
And they also enthusiastically endorsed vaccines.
“Yes, all seven of us, of course we’ve received vaccinations. The vaccine was a sort of ticket to meeting our fans waiting for us and to being able to stand here before you today,” J-Hope said.