It was a United Nations address by popular K-pop band BTS that drew the most attention — a pitch for vaccinations, young people, and the environment’s well-being.
On Monday, the seven-piece musical juggernaut took the stage in front of the iconic green-marbled background in the General Assembly Hall for a sustainability event to help promote U.N. goals for 2030, including eliminating extreme poverty, conserving the planet, and achieving gender equality.
RM, the band’s front man, stated, “Every choice we make is the beginning of change, not the conclusion.”
The pop artists were introduced by South Korean President Moon Jae-in as special presidential envoys and an “exceptionally remarkable group of young men who are engaging with the youth throughout the world.”
The musicians in front of global leaders and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were acutely aware of the seriousness of the situation. When band member Jimin tripped over his words while talking about young people attempting to manage the epidemic, it was clear that he was nervous. Jimin apologized and took a deep breath to regain his composure.
But it wasn’t entirely about the United Nations’ objectives. The band also debuted a new music video for their current hit track “Permission to Dance,” which was shot at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. While dancing from the General Assembly Hall to the lawn overlooking the East River, the singers sang, “Don’t need to speak the talk, just do the walk.”
BTS has gained international acclaim for their self-produced music and activism, which includes publicly calling out anti-Asian prejudice, since its inception in 2013. In 2020, the band reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list three times and received nominations for major music prizes like as the Billboard Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards.
