BTS: K-Pop's Social Conscience
FUSE TV - BTS: K-Pop's Social Conscience
As any K-pop fan would uncomfortably admit, sometimes it's hard to get a handle on the personalities of a group's various members. It's not their fault: In the K-pop industry, the slightest "slip-up" (like, say, an imperfect Twitter photo or the way you flip your hair) will earn a singer loads of hateful online comments that typically translate more rapidly to the Internet-obsessed general public. Most Korean pop stars are trained to give very formal answers in interviews, and sing about safe topics—first loves, parties, break-ups—to stay as much in the good favor of a society that banned PSY's "Gentleman" video because kicking a traffic cone was deemed "abuse of public property." These obstacles are particularly tough for international fans trying to get on board with K-pop but are used to the bombastic personalities of artists like Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj.
While it will be a long time until Korea's entertainment industry gets to a point of Western outspokenness, young boy band BTS is a shining example of a group that's finding a way to speak honestly about topics they deem important, even in a conservative society. And their importance to the genre is cemented with the release of their new album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2.
We think you'll enjoy these related videos below and for more great content featuring your favorite artists, sign up for Fuse+ to access all our videos.
41m
The Rise of K-Pop
3m
2NE1, Taeyang & WINNER Bring You Inside K-Pop Headquarters YG Entertainment
2m
Oliver Heldens Talks Working With Tiësto, K-Pop Group f(x)
41m
BTS: Global Takeover
4m
Barcelona Critique Social Media With Shimmering Synth Pop Single Premiere Lonely Holiday
27s
K-Pop Band U-KISS Tell Fuse Their Message for Zedd: Fuse News
4m
Shows: Music Video BTS: Beartooth BTS "Go Be The Voice"
4m
Interviews: K-Pop Boy Band B.A.P Talk U.S. Tour, Food & Fans
21m
Pop Your Podcast
1m
Keyshia Cole BTS: Fuse News
3m
Shows: Top 20: Halloween BTS
2m
Shows: ReGeneration:Chaz BTS
4m
Interviews: K-Pop Boy Band Infinite Say International Fans "All Feel the Same Connection to Music"
2m
Interviews: Which Member of K-Pop Group B.A.P Would Survive on a Desert Island?
20m
Soul Food Pop-Up
20m
Pop Goes The Question
3m
K-Pop Boy Band U-KISS Recall the Time a Fan Reached Down Their Pants: Fuse News
2m
Shows: ReGeneration:New York BTS
3m
Interviews: Bayside "Time Has Come" BTS
1m
Shows: ReGeneration:Pretty Light BTS
3m
SXSW 2014: Jay Park on Lady Gaga Watching His K-Pop Set: I'm Honored, But It's Weird
8m
Interviews: Best of Pop 2012
3m
Top Sexiest 100 Videos: Lily Aldridge BTS
3m
Top Sexiest 100 Videos: Chanel Iman BTS
2m
Top Sexiest 100 Videos: Chrissy Teigen BTS
2m
Shows: Top 50 Crush-Worthy: Jordin Sparks BTS
2m
Shows: Party Playlist : 2 Chainz Party Playlist BTS
3m
Interviews: Hatebreed's Top 5 Pop Songs
42s
Will Devon Really Pop the Question
1m
Amy Lee On Guilty Pop Pleasures
2m
Shows: Top 100 House Party Song: Pete Wentz BTS
3m
Shows: 100 Most Award-Winning Artists: BTS Jack Antonoff
3m
Shows: Top 100 House Party Song: Adrienne Bailon BTS
2m
Shows: Party Playlist: Andrew WK Top100 Party Playlist BTS
1m
Icona Pop Dish on Full-Length LP, "I Love It" Success & Swedish Pop at Billboard Music Awards
2m
Shows: Party Playlist : Rita Ora Top 100 Party Playlist BTS
3m
Shows: Hip Hop's 50 Hottest in the Game:: MGK BTS
3m
Shows: Hip Hop's 50 Hottest in the Game: Game BTS
1m
Daniel K. Nelson's Sunglasses: Closet Tours
2m
Song Premiere: Blowout Emo-Pop Single, 'Green Couch'
3m
DENM's "Under Pressure" Is an Electro-Pop Dream
51s
Tyson Ritter 40 to 31: 100 Pop Breakthroughs
5m
Inside Reebok and Future's Fury Pop-Up Shop
1m
Bonnaroo 2015: Recent Mom + Pop Music Signing, DMA's
2m
Shows: TOP 50: Girls Who Run The World:Skylar Grey BTS
4m
Festivals: Lollapalooza 2013: Icona Pop Want to Confuse You
1m
Elliphant Gives Tove Lo, Icona Pop & More Animal Nicknames
2m
Koo Koo Kangaroo: Pop Music About Unibrows and Unicorns
2m
Interviews: Electro-Pop Singer Matthew Koma's "One Night" Video
3m
Shows: TOP 50: Girls Who Rune The World:Tegan and Sara BTS
3m
Shows: Top 50 Crush-Worthy: Brendon Urieof Panic! at the Disco BTS
2m
Paul Oakenfold Talks "Pop Killer" At Electric Daisy Carnival 2016
41s
Jason Derulo fav videos 20 to 11: 100 Pop Breakthroughs
41s
Shows: 100 Pop Breakthroughs: Tyson Ritter Switch bodies with someone
3m
Interviews: Electro-Pop Duo Timeflies Plan New Single, Festival Dates
17m
Lola Blanc Cast a Pop Spell on "The Magic" EP
2m
Why Freedia Picked Café Reconcile For Her Pop-Up Restaurant
2m
Interviews: L.A. Pop-Rock Quartet Smallpools Talk Debut Single "Dreaming"
4m
Interviews: Aussie Pop Star Betty Who on Debut Album & Going Viral
2m
Neon Trees' Tyler Glenn Explains 'Pop Psychology' Album Title: Fuse News
7m
.IDK Does ASMR, Gets Nostalgic With Pop Rocks Candy & Talks Music
45s
Shows: 100 Pop Breakthroughs: Tyso Rritter Fav video 100 to 91
4m
Interviews: Cali Pop-Rock Quintet PK Almost Ran Over Steven Tyler
35s
Jason Derulo Fav video 50 to 41: Shows: 100 Pop Breakthroughs
3m
Interviews: Ballyhoo! on Their Name, Pop Punk Influences and Cruising With 311
4m
Interviews: Gossip on Pop Music, Politics and Wanting to Cover David Bowie
5m
Interviews: Gymnastics, Rapping & Parrots: UK Pop Band Lawson Play Truth or Dare
3m
Interviews: Walt From 'Lost' Is Now a Rapper in Pop Duo MKTO!!!
2m
Festivals:UltraFest 2013: Bassnectar "I'm Really Behind on Pop Music"
4m
Ambjaay Does ASMR with Pop Rocks, Talks His Creative Process During Quarantine
3m
Icona Pop Play Dress-Up at Patricia Field's NYC Boutique: Fuse News
3m
Interviews: SoCal Pop-Rock Quintet R5 Share Craziest Tour Bus Story
1m
Festivals: Voodoo 2012: Why Does Social Media Annoy AWOLNATION?
3m
Aussie Electro-pop Darlings Gold Fields on Pains of Being Young and New
3m
Shows: 100 Most Award-Winning Artists: Nelly Tries to Remember "Some" of His Career Awards BTS
2m
How Did Icona Pop Get 2Pac's Mom to Clear "Girlfriend" Sample?: Fuse News
3m
K.Flay Shows Off Her 'Cute-Ass' Photo, Names Favorite Rappers
2m
Shows: 100 Most Award-Winning Artists: Cody Simpson vs. Teleprompter: "One More Time, One More Time!" BTS
3m
Festivals: Firefly 2013: Go Inside L.A. Synth-Pop Duo Capital Cities' Tour Bus
4m
Interviews: L.A. Pop-Rock Group R5 Talk Parent Fans, New EP & Next Single
2m
Can Jason Derulo Film His Last Show in Under 30 Minutes?: 100 Pop Breakthroughs
2m
The Wild Wild Brings the Uplifting Indie-Pop You Need This Week With "Alright"
3m
All-Access With K-os As He Plays 'Jimmy Fallon': Fuse News
1m
Interviews: Chris Brown's New Social Media Strategy "Read a Book Instead"
3m
K.Flay Creates a Pumpkin Mask, Discusses Inspiring Message Behind Crush Me Book
24s
Shows: Party Playlist : Andrew W.K.'s Party Playlist Pick #70 to #61
4m
Festivals: Warped Tour: 2013: Indie Pop Rockers Never Shout Never on New LP & Hardcore Side Project
27s
Shows: Party Playlist: Andrew W.K Teaches You to Party Like a Pro Tonight!
1m
Big K.R.I.T. Started His Career With a 4 CD Duplicator: My Hustle
1m
Interviews: Watch Andrew W.K. Sell the Benefits of Playtex Wipes to This Random Guy
2m
Interviews: Big K.R.I.T. Is Excited to "Crowd Surf" on Tour With Macklemore
3m
Festivals: Rock The Bells 2013: Big K.R.I.T. Explains New Work Strategy for Upcoming Material
6m
Big K.R.I.T. Does ASMR With Styrofoam Balls, Talks New Album and J. Cole Collaboration
5m
Festivals: Bonnaroo 2013: Big K.R.I.T. on Working With Spike Lee: "I Let Him Have His Way"
1m
Interviews: U.K. boy band admit choreography isn't their strong suit. "We're all terrible dancers," the quartet joke
1m
Snakehips Discuss Their Zayn Malik Collaboration & New Album
1m
Shows: Top 20: Would ICP Fans Get Along with Beliebers, Selenators or Directioners?
5m
Interviews: Psy Recounts the Rise of "Gangnam Style"
3m
Interviews: Farting, Choreography & Sexy Rice Cakes: Psy Reveals "Gentleman" Video Secrets
2m
Drunken Tiger Talk Hip Hop's Early Days in South Korea: "It Was a Secret Society": Fuse News
