Music lovers around the world are looking to buy “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” - a memoir celebrating the 10th anniversary of the debut of the famous Korean boy band BTS.
BTS's 10th anniversary memoir is displayed at a bookstore in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2023.
The book released on July 9 is considered a treasure trove of precious memories and a useful resource for ARMY - the name of BTS's fan community. The 544-page memoir, jointly published by Flatiron Books (USA) and HYBE - BTS's management company, recounts the ups and downs of the group's 10-year career.
Through the memoir, co-author and journalist Kang Myeong Seok provides a necessary insight into BTS's fresh perspective and approach to the K-pop idol industry culture in Korea. The end of the memoir contains the personal thoughts of the 7 BTS members, from their hopes, thoughts, feelings to their experiences. This is considered a difference compared to a series of memoirs by other celebrities.
Throughout the memoir, there are also 330 QR codes that help fans immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of BTS's music and dance videos. The integration of the above technology has enhanced the reader experience, partly solving the problem in popular reading culture.
However, casual fans, or those simply curious, will have a hard time grasping the spirit of the memoir. To appreciate BTS’s efforts to break stereotypes over the past 10 years, readers need to be familiar with the workings of the Korean idol industry, the process of training, living and training before officially debuting.
Specifically, at the time of the group's debut, HYPE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) was almost an unknown company. The company had very few resources to connect and support BTS in the early stages of its establishment. In addition, BTS also developed in a unique direction that was different from the star training formulas of that time. The band pursued a liberal hip-hop style instead of performing synchronized choreography (kalgunmu). They also took advantage of online platforms YouTube, Vlive and Vlog instead of participating in traditional reality shows on TV.
Debuting in 2013, BTS is a South Korean boy band consisting of 7 members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. Over the past 10 years, BTS has always been loved by fans for their warm-hearted music, impressive performances and strong team spirit among the members.
According to VNA