Artist Name: BTS 

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member K-pop band from South Korea. Rm, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook broke into the scene on June 13, 2023 with their record, 2 Cool 4 Skool. It wasn’t until 2016 when they dropped their second studio album Wings when they reached mainstream success – selling well over one million copies in South Korea alone. Their coming of age songwriting that focused on self-love, mental health, loss, individualism, have cultivated a devoted fan base worldwide.  BTS became the first Korean group to receive a Gold certification froom the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their smash single “Mic Drop.” During their rapid rise to fame, they made history by topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200 chart with “Dynamite.” The best-selling K-pop group has garnered prestigious accolades throughout the years and five Grammy Award nominations. 

Despite their success, BTS made an earthquake-like announcement – a hiatus. In late august 2023, BTS confirmed that the ARMY could expect a reunion in 2025. While many members of BTS pursued  solo careers in music, Jin and J-Hope have begun their mandatory military service. According to RollingStone, Suga recently kick started the process of enlistment. 

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Fandom: BTS has a passionate community called the ARMY, which stands for “Adorable Representative MC for Youth.” The ARMY is one of the most powerful fandoms in entertainment. The devoted group rallied behind BTS at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, racking in nearly 300 million votes for Top Social Artist. BTS scored the prestigious accolade, beating out Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomex, and Ariana Grande. BTS has become one of the most active and powerful online communities, surpassing 70 million YouTube subscribers. The ARMY single-handedly has helped BTS break historic records, joined forces for philanthropic efforts, and have even bought a billboard in Time Square in New York City.  

Birthdate: 

• Jin – December 4, 1992 
• Suga – March 9, 1993 
• J-Hope – February 18, 1994 
• RM – September 12, 1994
• Jimin –– October 13, 1995
• V – December 30, 1995 
• Jungkook – September 1, 1997
  

Spouses/ Partners: 

• Jin: Jin is currently serving in the Korean military.  He is not dating anyone at the moment. He previously was linked to 
• Suga: The world-renowned rapper has been linked to K-Pop artist Suran in 2017.  Suga was fast to shut down the dating rumors, admitting that BTS band members “don’t even have time” to date. The spit-fire rapper is not dating anyone at the moment. 
• J-Hope: He does not publicly disclosed having a wife or girlfriend. BTS members, including J-Hope, have generally kept their personal lives, especially their dating lives, private. This is in line with the broader culture in the South Korean entertainment industry, where celebrities often do not share details about their relationships publicly.
• RM:  Throughout the years, RM has been relatively hush-hush with his private life. Most recently, the singer-songwriter has been tied to So!Yoon!. However, he has yet to confirm the dating speculations.  
• Jimin: While many fans believe Jimin and K-pop artist Seulgi from Red Velvet, he has also  been rumored with Han Seung-Yeon. Jimin has not confirmed his relationship status. 
• V: As of May 2023, V has been spotted with Jennie from Blackpink. According to Sports Seoul, both YG and HYBE declined to formally address the dating rumors. 
• Jungkook: Jungkook has most recently been linked to K-Pop artist Yein from Lovelyz, Chaeyeon from DIA, and KO So-Hyun from Cube. 
• Children: No. 

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Charitable or Philanthropic Activities: 

BTS never fails to put their best foot forward. In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, the seven-person band joined forces with Big Hit Entertainment to stand in solidarity “against racial discrimination.” BTS donated 1 million dollars to the Black Lives Matter group. Around the same time, BTS spokke at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly about COVID-19. 

In March 2023, Suga celebrated his 30th birthday by giving a generous donation of 1 million dollars alongside Save the Children to provide relief to victims of the record-breaking earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.  J-Hope previously (2021) worked with nonprofit ChildFun Korea to create a One Stop Center in Tanzania, East Africa. The safe space aids children who have fallen victim of violence. The hitmakers also used their powerful platform to address the anti-asian attacks, support children fighting cancer,  and help fans practice self-love. 

Influences and Role Models: BTS draws influences from various genres and artists. The band has built a strong foundation within the hip-hop and rap space by pulling inspiration from hitmakers – Eminem, Nas, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, and Epic High. However, when it comes to R&B and Soul, they find themselves incorporating elements from Beyoncé, John Legend, Justin Bieber, and more. Most recently, they have cited artists like Charlie Puth, Halsey, and Ariana Grande as pop influences. 

Photo Credit: @bts on YouTube.