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It was a United Nations speech that garnered attention like few others – a take on vaccines, youth, and earth welfare from K-pop superstar group BTS.
Addressing the stage of a sustainability event, the seven-member musical juggernaut appeared in front of the famous green marble backdrop of the General Assembly Hall on Monday to help promote the goals of the UN for 2030, including the eradication of extreme poverty, preservation of the planet and the achievement of gender equality.
“Every choice we make is the start of change, not the end,” said RM, the group leader.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced the pop stars as special presidential envoys and “an exceptionally exceptional group of young men who connect with young people around the world.”
The gravity of the moment did not escape the musicians standing in front of world leaders and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Nerves were evident when group member Jimin stumbled over his words when talking about young people trying to navigate the pandemic. Jimin apologized before catching his breath to remember. It was a moment that prompted “BTS ARMY” fans to rally behind him in a show of support on social media. The artists took turns on stage during their seven-minute speech.
But these were not just UN goals. The group also released a new music video for their hit single “Permission to Dance,” which was shot at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The singers hummed, “No need to talk, just walk,” while dancing from the General Assembly Hall to the garden overlooking the East River.
Since its debut in 2013, BTS has gained worldwide recognition for its self-produced music and activism, which also includes publicly speaking out against anti-Asian racism. The group topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts three times in 2020 and were nominated for top music awards like the Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.
Monday’s speech marked the group’s second appearance at the UN. The group attended an event in 2018, when RM spoke about his work with UNICEF.
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Follow Sally Ho on Twitter at http://twitter.com/_sallyho
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