South Korean superstars BTS have said they will be holding language learning sessions to “make it easy and fun for global fans who have difficulty enjoying BTS’s music due to the language barrier.”
The announcement could not have come at a better time, as millions shelter at home in self-isolation.
Each episode (which will be available in 30 languages) will focus on specific Korean grammar and expressions. Each lesson plan was developed with help from the Korean Language Content Institute and the Department of Korean Education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
The lessons will also teach some of the Korean expressions that are frequently used by band mambers RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
Learn Korean with BTS will also use parts of the South Korean pop group’s recent reality TV Show – Run BTS! – and its YouTube series.
The band’s management company – Big Hit Entertainment – said the inspiration for the idea came from the fans, some of whom began using BTS music videos to study the Korean language.
“There are only limited ways our fans could learn Korean with ease.” says Bang Si-Hyuk, the founder of Big Hit Entertainment.
Big Hit has created Korean learning media using artist content for a more rewarding and immersive experience for our fans.”
Each three-minute episode is available right now via BTS Fan-app Weverse.
There’s no denying the impact that BTS has had on the world. According to The Modern Language Association, interest in learning Korean has increased almost 45 per cent since the band’s introduction to the world stage.
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