By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae
Photo and video = BANGTANTV (BTS' official YouTube channel)

Korea.net on Dec. 24 named BTS the "Korean who shined in the world in 2020."

In a survey of Korea.net staff, BTS gained the most votes for this honor out of four nominees based on the number of articles the site produced year.

The other three nominees were Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jung Eun-Kyeong, film director Bong Joon-ho and Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee.

This year marks the seventh anniversary of BTS's debut and saw the group achieve many milestones that changed the global landscape of pop music and catapulted K-pop to the mainstream of global pop culture.

Rise to global superstardom 

Released in February, the group's fourth regular album "Map of the Soul: 7" has sold more than four million copies and topped the world's leading album charts.

In August, the group's "Dynamite," a song with lyrics in English, made history as the first Korean song to top the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The hit was No. 1 for three consecutive weeks and remains among the world's top songs at year's end.

BTS's latest album "Be" released last month topped the Billboard 200, the main album chart. Its title track "Life Goes On" also became the first song in Korean to top the Hot 100 in Billboard's 62-year history.

Time magazine of the U.S. on Dec. 10 named BTS "Entertainer of the Year," saying, "BTS isn't just the biggest K-pop act on the charts. They've become the biggest band in the world."

"Between releasing multiple albums, breaking every type of record and appearing in these extemporaneous livestreams in 2020, BTS ascended to the zenith of pop stardom."

Kim Minji, an English-language staff writer and announcer at Korea.net, said, "BTS continues to break records not only at home but also in the global market, and I'm proud that the group stands shoulder to shoulder with globally popular singers." 

"BTS's record-setting parade has contributed to boosting Korea's standing in the world."

Music for conveying solace and hope

BTS's popularity is not confined to music as the group's influence through close communication with its fans extends to voicing opinions on political and social issues. 

In a video clip shown on Sept. 23, the group conveyed a message of hope to all future generations around the world struggling from COVID-19. The video was played at the United Nations Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security on the sidelines of the 75th U.N. General Assembly in New York.

BTS also donated USD 1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. and joined campaigns against racial discrimination and violence.

Elena Kubitzki, a German-language staff writer for Korea.net, said, "I don't think any person or group did more to inform the world about Korea and Hallyu than BTS," adding, "Their endless communication with Army (BTS's fan group) has connected people all over the world and evoked within people hope, joy and a sense of belonging."

BTS is also the first Korean act to receive a Grammy nomination, thus the world will tune in on Jan. 31 to the awards ceremony. 

xuaiy@korea.kr