Mary Colussi 
I'm sorry, BTS brings in <i>how</i> many billions to the South Korean economy?!
15 Utterly Fascinating Facts About Some Of The World’s Biggest K-Pop Stars
1. BTS’s leader RM, formerly known as Rap Monster, told Yahoo! Entertainment that the sitcom Friends played a pivotal role in helping him become fluent in English.
Warner Bros / courtesy Everett Collection2. RM’s fellow BTS member, Jin, told GQ that he’s a “big fan of Chris Martin,” and that the Coldplay frontman gave him an unexpected gift following the collaboration of their two groups.
The Fact / ImaZins via Getty Images“After our collaboration, we had a chance to see him again in the US. When just the two of us were in the studio, I said to him, ‘Hey, your guitar’s cool.’ I mean, I’m such a big fan. Honestly, everything about him is cool. But he suddenly handed the guitar over, saying it was a gift,” explained Jin. “I hadn’t been implying anything with my comment. Even in my dazed state, I was so excited I didn’t know how to respond.”
Kevin Winter / Getty Images for MRCHe went on, “I asked him multiple times if he was serious, because I just couldn’t believe it. I was so grateful. I heard later on that he knew I was a fan. Maybe that’s why he gave it to me? This is all an assumption, of course.”
Cindy Ord / WireImage / via Getty3. Under South Korea’s Military Service Act, all able-bodied men are required to serve around a year and a half in the military before they turn 28. While Olympic medalists and highly accomplished classical musicians are eligible for exemptions, K-pop stars currently aren’t, though according to Variety, some in South Korea are seeking to change that.
Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images for Dick Clark ProductionsAt a 2022 press conference, South Korean Culture, Sports, and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee said, “The system has been operated meaningfully to give those who have enhanced the national status based on their excellent skills more chances to contribute to the country, and there is no reason the popular art-culture field should be excluded from this. Somebody should be a responsible voice at a time when there are conflicting pros and cons ahead of the enlistment of some of the BTS members.”
Rich Fury / Getty Images for iHeartMediaAccording to Bloomberg, 29-year-old Jin hasn’t signed up for service yet because of a 2020 law that permits pop culture figures who offer “great contributions” to their nation a two year extension on the usual deadline. But he will have to enlist before the end of the year if the law doesn’t change, as will, eventually, the other members of the band, which Hwang said would result in a “cultural loss for mankind.”
NBC / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images4. Speaking of the “great contributions” of BTS: According to NPR, it’s estimated that BTS brings in $5 billion per year to South Korea’s economy.
Cindy Ord / WireImage / via Getty5. Suho, the leader of EXO, did serve in the military, and he told Rolling Stone that he was able to apply his K-pop skills to his new position.
Han Myung-gu / WireImage / via GettySuho said, “Regardless of what I’m doing, it’s taught me to be more open-minded and has given me the tools to connect and communicate with all kinds of people.”
VCG / VCG via Getty Images6. Seventeen member, Woozi, told Rolling Stone that when he wrote the line “I want to know our problem, blood type or DNA” for the band’s first English-language single, “Darl+ing,” he didn’t realize that blood types don’t have the same connotations in the US and other English-speaking countries as they do in South Korea.
The Chosunilbo Jns / ImaZins via Getty Images(According to The Korea Herald, blood types in South Korea are “widely believed to be predictive of personality and temperament.”)
The Chosunilbo Jns / ImaZins via Getty ImagesWoozi said, “I actually thought that blood types were a thing in the United States and other countries when I wrote the song, I didn’t know it wasn’t a thing. I don’t particularly believe in blood types, but when I was writing this I thought it would be something fun and cute. … Maybe I should’ve included zodiac signs in the lyrics.”
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images7. When they were selected as K-pop trainees by industry powerhouse YG Entertainment, the members of girl group Blackpink — as well as other potentials who didn’t make the cut — spent 12 hours a day, every day of the week, learning all the skills they’d need to become stars.
Rich Fury / Getty Images for CoachellaJennie, who called the experience “more strict than school,” told Billboard, “Somebody would come in with a piece of paper and stick it on a wall, and it would say who did best, who did worst, who’s going home.” Lisa added that the trainees were given letter grades.
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty ImagesUltimately, Jennie spent the most time as a trainee, logging six years, while Rosé spent the least, at four. Jisoo and Lisa landed in the middle, with five years apiece of training.
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images8. The music video for Blackpink’s “How You Like That” set three Guinness World Records: “Most Viewed YouTube Video in 24 Hours,” “Most Viewed Music Video on YouTube in 24 Hours,” and “Most Viewed YouTube Music Video in 24 Hours by a K-Pop Group.”
YG Entertainment Inc. / Via youtube.comThe video garnered 86.3 million views over the course of its first day online. It currently has over a billion.
YG Entertainment Inc. / Via youtube.com9. According to Elle, Blackpink’s Lisa, who is from Thailand, was YG Entertainment’s “first non-Korean idol.”
Rich Fury / Getty Images for Coachella10. The group’s rallying cry is “Blackpink in your area!” Jennie explained to Elle, “When we say ‘Blackpink in your area,’ we’re literally saying we’re in your area with good music, with good energy — we’re here for you.”
Scott Dudelson / Getty Images for Coachella11. Girls’ Generation member Seohyun told Billboard that when the group first started working together, they would “talk endlessly” about the life and career ahead of them. One early decision they made was to act as “the bridesmaids and the wedding singer” for all of their fellow bandmates’ future weddings.
Han Myung-gu / WireImage / via Getty12. When asked by Billboard about the most memorable crowd response to one of their performances, Red Velvet’s Joy replied, “On an overseas tour, I was really moved by our international fans who memorized the lyrics in Korean and sang along to all our songs. They even made a special chant for each song. It blew my mind in the best way possible!”
The Chosunilbo Jns / Imazins via Getty Images13. Alongside having the wherewithal to memorize lyrics in their non-native language, Red Velvet’s fans are innovative: The band told Interview that at their first event, which took place before they had an “official light stick,” fans waved feather dusters, “because they were the same color as our hair back then.”
Unioncom / Visual China Group via Getty Images14. According to Rolling Stone, the thirteen members of Seventeen were each given a pinkie ring upon their debut in 2015, and they get a new one for each subsequent album release. As of April 2022, they were on their fifth ring.
Chung Sung-jun / Getty Images15. And finally: I.M. of Monsta X told Consequence of Sound in 2021 that the group had lived together for “seven, almost eight years.”
Jim Spellman / Getty ImagesHe explained, “Well, we’ve lived together for seven, almost eight years, before the debut, because we live in the same dorm and we are still living in the same dorm, so I think we are closer than family, our personal family, because we stay together, we sleep together, we eat together, we do everything together. We’re getting old at the same time and doing everything.”
VCG / Visual China Group via Getty ImagesSupport AAPI-centered content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn’t end after May. Go follow @buzzfeedapop to keep up with our latest AAPI content year-round! P.S. Love this art? Learn more about these amazing AAPI activists here.
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