[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] The group BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) completed their special envoy schedule by attending the United Nations General Assembly as representatives of youth worldwide and delivering Korean artworks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
BTS faithfully carried out their schedule in New York, USA, as the "Presidential Special Envoy for Future Generations and Culture" and returned home on the 24th. Alongside President Moon Jae-in, BTS delivered a speech at the opening session of the 76th UN General Assembly's "Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment," participated in an interview with the UN on the "SDG Moment," and gave an interview to ABC in the US. They also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Korean Cultural Center in New York, fulfilling their role as "cultural envoys."
This marks BTS's third speech at the UN, following 2018 and 2020. In 2018, leader RM spoke on behalf of the group, sharing his experience and saying, "Young people around the world, love yourselves and raise your voices!" which resonated globally. In 2020, during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS encouraged, "The deeper the night, the brighter the stars shine. On this path we walk together, if you cannot see the stars, rely on the moonlight; if even the moonlight is gone, let us use each other's faces as light and move forward!" They concluded with a message of hope: "Life will go on. Let's live through it together!"
This time, instead of delivering a message based on their own experiences, BTS acted as messengers conveying the stories of future generations as they are. While they spoke in English in 2018 and mixed English and Korean in 2020, this time, motivated by the responsibility of standing on the podium as special envoys of the President of the Republic of Korea and the need to better communicate the voices of future generations, all seven members delivered their speech entirely in Korean.
BTS said, "We heard that today's teenagers and people in their twenties are sometimes called the 'Corona Lost Generation.' It means they lost their way during a time when various opportunities and attempts were needed. But can we say they lost their way just because adults cannot see it?" They continued, "The name 'Welcome Generation' suits them better than 'Lost Generation.' If we believe in possibilities and hope, even in unexpected situations, we will not lose our way but discover new paths." They concluded their speech by saying, "We thought the world had stopped, but it is moving forward little by little. We believe every choice is not an ending but the beginning of change," and then revealed a performance video of 'Permission to Dance.'
Immediately after their speech, BTS attended a UN 'SDG Moment' interview with President Moon, sharing their convictions about the SDGs, their sense of responsibility as special envoys, and their hopes for their fans. They also held an interview with ABC, sharing their thoughts on key UN General Assembly agendas such as overcoming the pandemic and communicating with future generations.
From the moment they arrived in the US, the seven members carried out their special envoy schedule, starting with a UN General Assembly performance shoot, followed by speeches and interviews. On the 22nd, they conducted a live broadcast on Naver V LIVE locally, saying, "We are continuing our UN-related work (special envoy activities), and although it's hectic, we are having amazing experiences."
BTS fulfilled not only their role as special envoys representing youth and future generations but also their role as "K-Culture envoys" to further spread Korean culture.
After their UN General Assembly speech and 'SDG Moment' interview, they visited the Korean Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in the US and one of the world's top three museums, to view artworks and deliver Korean craft pieces to the Korean Gallery. BTS said, "We felt overwhelmed while touring the Korean Gallery. It was meaningful and new to see the Korean Gallery in New York, USA," adding, "There are truly wonderful Korean artists who are not yet well known overseas, and they are making great efforts. As special envoys, we will work diligently with a sense of mission to further expand the greatness of Korean culture and the potential of K-Culture."
BTS remained busy until the last day of their special envoy activities. They made a surprise visit to the Korean Cultural Center in New York, saying, "It is amazing and proud that there are places like the Korean Cultural Center and the Korean Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the global cultural hub, where people can experience Korean culture."
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