JAKARTA: Fans of BTS, the world's top K-pop band, are demanding that the group's record label divest its ties with Israeli institutions and use its fandom's power for social justice activism to support Palestine.
BTS, also known as the “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”, is a seven-member K-pop group that has become one of the most profitable franchises in the music industry since their debut in 2013. BTS's millions of fans around the world are collectively known as ARMY.
This massive fandom has grown in popularity over the years, becoming known for its online presence and making global headlines as its members raise millions of dollars for charities and organize viral campaigns on social media.
Some of those fans have now joined a group called ARMY for Palestine, which is coordinating efforts to sever ties with the band's label, Hybe Corporation, and its US subsidiary's CEO, Scooter Braun, who supports Israel.
“We are running a Hybe divestment campaign, demanding that Hybe divest from Zionist companies and associates, including Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun,” Lila, a Palestinian member of the group, told Arab News.
At X, Lila and her friends promoted the #HybeDivestFromZionism campaign, which not only called for Brown's firing, but also urged fans to stop buying albums and merchandise from artists signed to the label, and to stop streaming their music.
ARMY for Palestine campaigned on the streets of Seoul in March. Members sent a truck with an electronic billboard with their demands to Hybe headquarters in Seoul.
“What’s important to ARMY is that this is what we as a fandom have always stood for. ARMY is known to be very active in fandom activities,” Lila said.
“We wanted to leverage the empathy, advocacy, loudness, progressiveness and organizing skills that we have been known for over the last decade… There are too many Palestinian ARMYs.
“We have lost many members of this community to the brutal war crimes of the occupation. Many ARMY are in Gaza, suffering genocide.”
Official estimates say more than 39,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza in Israeli ground and air strikes over the past nine months, but a study published last month in the journal Lancet estimates the actual death toll could be as high as 186,000.
Some BTS fans began speaking out about Israel’s war in Gaza last November, after photos of the band members being pulled from rubble in the residential area began to spread online. ARMY for Palestine also launched around the same time.
The group is run by Palestinian members of the BTS fandom (some of whom live in the US and Europe) as well as people from other countries including India, Pakistan, and Malaysia.
Deja, another Palestinian member of the group, said being an ARMY member means “reflecting BTS’ values” of being “socially conscious” and caring for others.
“It’s important for us that the ARMY sees our humanity as Palestinians. So I think it’s very important for us to be in this space as Palestinians and as ARMY, to be ourselves as representatives of our people,” she told Arab News.
“To be honest, we just want to see people start to care about Palestinians, and Palestinians start to listen to Palestinians and to our voices. The most essential tool in fighting oppression is community. With a community of like-minded people, anything is possible.”
While the Palestinian ARMY has been heartened by the support they have received from the international community, the members have faced “backlash and harassment” from within the BTS fandom since last year.
“There is division… It is definitely disappointing and it is very scary to see people who were part of our community dehumanizing us and asking for help just because we are Palestinians,” group member Juju told Arab News.
“Despite the backlash, we’ve still built a small but beautiful community with an empathetic and caring ARMY who are willing to organize, speak out for the oppressed, and push for change. Our movement continues to grow… and we’ll continue to be loud.”
For Casey, an Indonesian ARMY member living in Bogor, West Java, speaking out for Palestine is part of being a BTS fan. But members of the K-pop group have yet to speak out about the violence in Gaza.
“BTS is the biggest K-pop idol group and ARMY is the biggest fandom. The voices of idols and fans can be influential,” Casey told Arab News.
“BTS and ARMY's voices are desperately needed to educate and raise awareness about the genocide taking place in Palestine.”
