KUALA LUMPUR: With the immense popularity and influence that K-Pop supergroup BTS has achieved so far, it’s no real surprise that the outfit would be given due recognition by its home country.
The seven-member music band was recently honoured with the Order of Cultural Merit from the South Korean government.
According to Allkpop, a spokesperson from the presidential residence of Cheong Wa Dae had released a statement yesterday that South Korean president Moon Jae-in had awarded both BTS and actor Lee Soon Jae with the honour.
This was done in recognition of the “outstanding meritorious services in the fields of culture and the arts in the interest of promoting national culture and national development.”
BTS has been credited with contributing to the development of popular culture and arts, which includes spreading Hallyu or the Korean Wave phenomenon all around the world.
This makes the uber successful K-Pop group the youngest ever recipient of the South Korean government’s Order of Cultural Merit.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon also praised the band for increasing awareness of the Korean language.
He apparently said: “BTS is not only spreading songs with Korean lyrics to numerous young people in other countries, but are also spreading Hangul as well.”
On another note, the boys recently shared their thoughts on becoming the first Korean artiste to stage a major US stadium concert.
According to Soompi, the various members thanked their ardent fans for enabling them to become the only Korean artiste in history to ever hold a solo concert at a stadium in America.
J-Hope said: “Up until now, we’ve slowly climbed up one step at a time while performing at many different concert venues, and I feel as though finally, the apex is within sight.”
V commented: “I thought that we had performed at many large venues during our world tours, but I never imagined that we would be able to hold a concert at an even larger venue like this one.”
Suga added: “I feel especially moved because it’s a stage on which only a small minority of singers get to perform. I hope that Citi Field is our start.”
Even popular American talk show host Jimmy Fallon had wished them well for their historic concert in New York.
On the day itself, Fallon showed his love by taking to Twitter to share a sweet video message saying, “Yo, BTS, it’s your boy Chimmy Fallon! I just wanted to say break a leg tonight. I know you’re over at Citi Field, which you sold out in under 10 minutes; that’s unbelievable. I’ll be listening out of my window. Break a leg!”
Apparently Fallon had also bonded with Jimin during the show over their phonetically similar names when BTS made a guest appearance on his The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last month.
During the show, Fallon was seen wearing a headband featuring Jimin’s BT21 character, Chimmy.
BTS’ recent concert at Citi Field marks the end of the US leg of its Love Yourself world tour, which began in Seoul two months ago. The music group is currently performing in Europe before bringing the tour to Japan next month.