JAKARTA: Fans of the world's biggest K-pop group, BTS, are calling for the group's record label to be divested from entities linked to Israel, using the power of fans for social justice activities in support of Palestine.
BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”, is a seven-member K-pop group that has become one of the most profitable franchises in the music industry since 2013. Millions of BTS fans around the world are collectively known as ARMY.
The massive fan base has gained popularity over the years, known for its online activism and making global headlines for raising millions of dollars for charity and organizing viral social media campaigns by members. .
Some of those fans are now part of a group called ARMY for Palestine, and are coordinating efforts toward the band's label, Hybe Corporation, asking the company to use its relationship with Scooter Braun, the CEO of the label's American subsidiary, to support him. cut off Israel
Leila, a Palestinian member of the group, told Arab News: “We have our Hybe divestment campaign, where we are asking Zionist companies and partners, including Hybe America's CEO, Scooter Braun.
At X, Leila and her friends have promoted the #HybeDivestFromZionism campaign, which calls not only for Brown to be fired, but for fans to stop buying albums and merchandise and streaming music from artists signed to the label.
Army for Palestine took its campaign to the streets of Seoul in March, when members drove a truckload of electronic billboards with their demands to the Hybe headquarters in the South Korean capital.
“It's important as an army because that's exactly what we've always claimed this fandom stands for…Army is well involved in fandom,” Leila said.
We hoped to put to good use the empathy, support, loudness, progress and organizational skills we have been known for over the past decade… There is a very large Palestinian army.
We have lost many members of this community to the barbaric war crimes of the occupation. “Many armies are in Gaza and they are experiencing genocide.”
According to official estimates, Israeli ground and air strikes in the past nine months have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza, although a study published in the journal Lancet last month estimated that the actual death toll could exceed 186,000. .
Some BTS fans started talking about Israel's war on Gaza in November last year, when a clip showing images of the group members being pulled from the rubble went viral. An army for Palestine was launched about the same time.
The group is run by Palestinian members of BTS fans — some of whom are based in the United States and Europe — and people from other countries, including India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Dejah, another Palestinian member of the group, said being in the army means reflecting BTS's “values of social consciousness” and caring about other people.
“It's important to us that the army sees our humanity as Palestinians, so we think that's why it's so important for us to be in this space as Palestinians and the army – to really be in this space ourselves as defenders of our people. ” He told Arab News.
To be honest, we just want people to care about the Palestinians and see the Palestinians… start listening to the Palestinians and our voices. The most necessary tool to continue the fight against oppression is the community. “If you have a community of like-minded people behind you, anything is possible.”
Although ARMY for Palestine is encouraged by the support it has received from the international community, its members have also suffered “backlash and harassment” from BTS fans since last year.
“There's a division… there's definitely something disappointing — and it's very terrifying to see people who were in the community dehumanizing us, just because that we are Palestinians and we ask people to help us.
“Despite the odds, we've still built a beautiful little community with armies of caring and compassionate people willing to organize, use their voices for oppressed people, and push for change. “Our movement continues to grow…we will continue to be loud.”
For Casey, a member of the Indonesian military stationed in Bogor, West Java, speaking up for Palestine is part of what it means to be a BTS fan, even if the K-pop group members themselves have yet to speak out about the violence in Gaza. .
BTS is the biggest K-Pop bat group and ARMY is the biggest fan. Casey told Arab News: The voice of idols and their fans can be influential.
The voices of BTS and ARMY are much needed to educate and raise awareness about the genocide that is happening in Palestine.
