Theoretical Background of the study

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South

Korean boy band that began formation in 2010 and debuted in 2013

under Big Hit Entertainment. Since then, the group has gained support

from fans all around the globe. They're very much appreciate but there

are also some people that are complete strangers to this group's

identity that they rather hate the group than knowing their story.

This study is anchored on the theory entitled Bang Shi Hyuk's

'The BTS Universe Theory' to indicate the lives of each member

through their songs. The lore is so deep that there’s a whole BTS

universe (BU) to keep up with.

The KPOP industry has been revealed often as toxic,

manipulative, and inhumane circumstances behind the scenes that

push some performers to extremes (Sherman, 2020). “K-pop’s history

is a history of cover-ups,” says John Lie, author of K-Pop: Popular

Music, Cultural Amnesia, and Economic Innovation in South Korea.

“Exploitation is one of the worst abuses.” (Lie, 2014). It was within

this environment that a man named Bang Si-hyuk began to quietly

build a different kind of studio, and to cultivate the band that would

become BTS. In 2010, Bang began to assemble a group of teens for a

group he called the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. This would go on to

become Bangtan Boys, then BTS, but the ingredients of their success

were inherent in the original name. Bang intended “bulletproof” to

function as a celebration of the kids’ toughness and ability to withstand

the pressures of the world. But he also wanted the band to be able to

be sincere and genuine — not immaculate idols groomed amid studio

culture, but real boys who shared their authentic personalities and

talents with the world. Bang wanted BTS to be full of figures that

audiences could relate to. To create that band, Bang had to shake up

the established precedents for how idol groups are treated. BTS

wouldn’t have strict contracts and curfews, and they’d be allowed to

discuss the pressures of stardom. Their lyrics would be open about the

cultural pressure placed on Korean teens to excel and do well and to

repress their anxieties. In short, they would be frank, honest, and

natural (Romano, 2020). Colette Bennett is an entertainment reporter

and a huge fan of BTS (she’s seen them in concert four times since

2014), but even though she liked their music, it took a while for her to

take their message seriously. To Bennett, the band’s frank discussion

of mental health and the expectations placed on Asian teens was

revolutionary. In 2016, she wrote a profile of the band that argued

that they were changing the nature of K-pop through their

interpersonal approach to image-making. “After only three years in K-

pop, they’re not only succeeding wildly in the industry, but setting a
standard for the bands that will come after them. Their souls are in

their performances because they helped to create them—an

investment that makes all the difference between memorizing dance

routines like a marionette, and embracing them with passionate,

authentic joy.” (Bennett, 2016).

Another theory that is similar and supports this study is 'The

Bangtan Theory'. Since most people are completely alienated about

this group, this theory described the phenomenon and storyline of how

the group was form and their lives before gaining popularity. The

theory also explains how each member defined their struggles and

gained individual popularity.

According to previous studies stated above, the Bangtan Theory

in connection to The BTS Universe Theory proves that BTS,as a group,

works hard to show their fans how much they appreciate them through

all these theories. These theories provided enough beliefs and insights

regarding how BTS can make a great impact to their supporters with

just their songs and even individual personalities. With the help of the

said theories, the researchers could come up to a stronger foundation

and can effectively assess the issue specifically in showing people how

great of a group BTS can be and how they influenced the young

millennials of this age.