BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts) or Beyond The Scene, is a seven-member South Korean boy band that became the biggest music group in the world in the late 2010s and early 2020s. The group — consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook — has sold over 40 million albums, broken dozens of music records, and built the largest and most organized fanbase in modern pop history, known as ARMY.
BTS debuted on June 13, 2013, under BigHit Entertainment (now HYBE Corporation), a then-small agency founded by producer Bang Si-hyuk. Unlike most K-pop groups debuting from major agencies, BTS started with modest resources and gained early followers through their authentic self-produced music addressing youth struggles, mental health, and social pressure. Their early albums in the 'school trilogy' — 2 Cool 4 Skool, O!RUL8,2?, and Skool Luv Affair — established themes of rebellion against societal expectations.
The group's global breakthrough came with the Love Yourself series (2017-2018), culminating in Love Yourself: Tear, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 — a first for a Korean act. 'Dynamite' (2020), their first full-English single, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up English singles 'Butter' and 'Permission to Dance' also reached number one, making BTS one of only a handful of groups to achieve three consecutive Hot 100 chart-toppers.
In 2022, BTS announced a group hiatus to allow members to fulfill their mandatory South Korean military service. Members enlisted between 2022 and 2023, with all seven expected to complete service and regroup by 2025. During the hiatus, members released successful solo projects: Jungkook's 'Seven' and 'Standing Next to You,' Jimin's 'Like Crazy,' and SUGA's world tour as Agust D all achieved significant commercial success.
BTS's influence transcends music. They addressed the United Nations General Assembly three times, speaking on youth issues and sustainable development. Their impact on the South Korean economy was estimated at $5 billion annually, leading the Korean government to pass the 'BTS military service law' allowing the group to delay enlistment. HYBE Corporation, their parent company, became a publicly traded entertainment conglomerate valued at over $7 billion.
