BTS is probably the most popular Korean boy band in history. The band was born in 2013 but didn’t gain wide popularity until 2020. Although, those seven years of waiting were worth it. After all, today there is hardly a person who hasn’t heard the name of this boyish pop band at least once. So what does the name BTS stand for?
The hashtag BTS used to mean “Behind the Scenes,” that is, of course, until the K-Pop group took over Twitter and all other social media. Now BTS is more often associated with the group “BangTanSonyeondan.
The group of seven young men, also known as the Bangtan Boys, rose to fame in South Korea and went international after winning the charts there. Their name literally translates to “bangtan-sonyeodan,” which means “bulletproof boy scouts.
Literally, “Bang-Tan (방탄)” translates to “bulletproof,” and “So-Nyeon-Dan (소년단)” translates to “boy band.” Collectively, “Bangtansonyeondan (방탄소년단)” translates to “group of bulletproof boys.”
Big Hit Entertainment, the agency that owns the BTS brand, deciphers the group’s name as a stance against social norms and pressure. A more accurate explanation: As “Bulletproof Scouts,” members will fight against social “bullets” of stereotypes and repression to protect their values and music. The idea of “defending” against social pressure actually extends to all teenagers, the group’s target audience.
As Jay Hope says. one of the band members, the name is the epitome of BTS’s desire to reflect stereotypes, expectations and criticism-all directed at teens like bullets. And judging by the Korean boy-band’s million-dollar fan clubs, they’re delivering their philosophy to people with a slice of you.
In July 2016, Big Hit Entertainment released an updated brand identity for both BTS and the group’s ARMY Fanclub. With the band’s new logo, BTS has become a symbol of “Beyond The Scene.” That is, the meaning of the acronym came to its original version.
So, let’s summarize all of the above by outlining all the possible options for deciphering the name of the most popular boy band BTS. Deciphering variants:
- Bangtan S
- Bangtan Boys
- Bulletproof Boys Scouts
- Beyond the Scene
- Break The Silence