BTS promotions disappear as band sparks uproar in China
The leader of BTS, known by the initials RM, upset many people in China in a speech when the band received an award from a U.S.-based organisation
October 12, 2020
South Korean boyband BTS is facing a barrage of criticism in China after its leader made remarks about the Korean War and several big-name brands, including Samsung, have apparently distanced themselves from the K-pop group amid the uproar.
The leader of BTS, known by the initials RM, upset many people in China in a speech when the band received an award from a U.S.-based organisation for their contribution to South Korea-U.S. relations.
RM invoked a “history of pain” shared between South Korea and the United States and, referring to the 1950-53 Korean War, spoke of “sacrifices of countless men and women”.
The comments touched off heated debate on social media in China.
“They should not make any money from China,” one angry user said on the Weibo platform, referring to BTS.
“If you want to make money from Chinese fans you have to consider Chinese feelings.”
Posts featuring Samsung’s BTS special edition smartphones and earphones disappeared from Chinese e-commerce platforms Tmall and JD.com as the controversy swirled.
