More than 1 million people tuned in Monday to watch superstar K-Pop group BTS deliver a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The group, known for catchy beats and a rabidly loyal fanbase, addressed the crowd as part of a sustainability event.
The seven-member group spoke on a variety of issues, each taking turns at the podium in the Great Assembly Hall. BTS promoted vaccination, environmentalism and positivity in the face of an uncertain future. Band member J-Hope comparing their shots to a “ticket to meeting our fans waiting for us and being able to stand here before you today.” The group addressed their speech at young people.
“There are still many pages left in this story about us, and I thought we shouldn’t talk like the ending’s already been written,” Kim Taeyhung said.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently designated BTS as “special presidential envoy for future generations and culture” according to The New York Times. He accompanied the band to the United Nations. This is not the first time BTS have dipped their toes into the political world; in 2018, the band visited the U.N. with UNICEF to promote the “Generation Unlimited” campaign.
Excitingly, the group had more than a speech prepared this time. BTS premiered a new music video for their hit single “Permission to Dance,” filmed at the U.N.’s New York headquarters. The video shows the band dancing along the aisles of an empty General Assembly hall, warbling the fitting message: “Don’t need to talk the talk, just walk the walk.”
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