By Honorary Reporter Shaina Dyson from U.S.

Photos = Yonhap News, Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in (fourth from left) and BTS members on Sept. 14 take a commemorative photo at a ceremony awarding the group certificates of appointment as "special presidential envoy for future generations and culture" at Cheong Wa Dae. Yonhap News

President Moon Jae-in on Sept. 14 appointed the seven members of BTS as special presidential envoys prior to the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York, an event he and the group will attend.

BTS continues to be an incredibly positive influence on the world. Even in rural parts of the southern U.S., the group is growing exponentially in popularity and finding members of the BTS fan community Army is increasingly more common. For example, someone recently struck up a conversation with me after seeing my BTS-themed phone case. Interactions like this were few and far between before, proving how powerful the group's reach is in all parts of the world.

The seven BTS members on Sept. 14 received diplomatic passports for their trip to the U.S. with President Moon Jae-in.

But what does the growing influence of BTS and its new appointment mean for the world body's annual meeting? Though it might be premature, I believe that the group's influence could be highly effective. Army, for example, has shown itself to be a global force for good, collecting donations for charity to mark a member's birthday. I feel that BTS' diplomatic appointment and first assignment will only raise the group's influence and bring new awareness to the U.N. among their fans.

I conducted an informal poll of young adults ranging in age from the mid-20s to mid-30s, and while just a few of them had heard of the General Assembly, only one had any idea of what it did. Prior to this year, I was vaguely aware of this event but due to media coverage and the group's appointment as presidential envoy, I read more about the body and function of the meeting. As a direct result of BTS' appointment, I not only learned more about the assembly but will follow not just this session but subsequent ones as well. And more youths worldwide will probably want to learn more about the assembly due to BTS' participation as well as participate.

Army members have shown that they can united as a force for positive change. Imagine the possibilities that higher awareness and call to action can have for young people of the world not just for the assembly, but also for any diplomatic assignment given to BTS.  

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.