"BTS = Coronavirus"... Controversial Radio Host Finally Closes SNS

The group BTS appeared on the special unplugged stage aired by the American music channel MTV at 9 p.m. on the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A German radio host who made offensive remarks about BTS, calling them "like the coronavirus" and telling them to "take a vacation to North Korea," is facing backlash from BTS fans worldwide. Despite the broadcaster's apology, protests continued, leading the host to shut down his personal social media accounts.

According to the British BBC on the 27th (local time), Matthias Matuschke, a program host of the German radio station Bayern 3, harshly criticized BTS's performance during a broadcast the previous night.

Earlier, on the 24th, BTS became the first Korean artist to appear on MTV's acoustic sound live program < MTV Unplugged >. At that time, BTS performed "Fix You," a popular song by the famous British rock band Coldplay, who responded on their Twitter in Korean, calling them "beautiful @BTS."

However, Matuschke condemned BTS's appearance on < MTV Unplugged > as "too contradictory." Showing displeasure at the Korean idol group's performance, he described their cover of Coldplay's song as "blasphemy."

Matuschke said, "I am an atheist, but BTS covering 'Fix You' is blasphemy," and added, "They should be sent on vacation to North Korea for the next 20 years."

He also sparked controversy by saying, "BTS is an acronym like COVID-19, which means coronavirus," and "A vaccine to protect against them will be coming soon, so that's hopeful."

Seemingly aware of the backlash, he later tried to excuse himself by saying, "I have no ill feelings toward Korea. You cannot accuse me of racism just because BTS is from Korea. I own a very nice Korean car," but BTS fans worldwide criticized Matuschke's remarks through social media.

As the controversy continued, Bayern 3 issued a statement saying, "The remarks were the personal opinion of the host," and "Matuschke expressed his views in an exaggerated manner and hurt BTS fans." However, even after this, protests against Matuschke's racist remarks continued worldwide on social media using hashtags like '#RassismusBeiBayern3' and 'Bayern3Racist,' leading Matuschke to eventually make his social media accounts private.