JAKARTA: Fans of the world's biggest K-pop band, BTS, are calling for the group's record label to be removed from organizations associated with Israel, using fandom's potential for social justice activism to support Palestine.
BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”, is a seven-member K-pop group that has become one of the music industry's most profitable franchises since its debut in 2013. Millions of BTS fans around the world are collectively known as ARMY.
The massive fandom has gained its own popularity over the years, becoming known for its online activism and members raising millions of dollars for charity and organizing viral social media campaigns.
Some of those fans are now part of a group called ARMY for Palestine and are coordinating efforts directed at the band's label Hyb Corporation, asking the company to cut ties with Scooter Braun, CEO of the label's US subsidiary. Israel.
“We have our ongoing Hib divestment campaign, where we demand that Zionist companies and allies, including Hib America CEO Scooter Braun, divest Hib,” Leila, a Palestinian member of the group, told Arab News.
At X, Lila and her friends have promoted the #HybeDivestFromZionism campaign, which not only calls for Brown's dismissal, but also urges fans to stop buying albums and merchandise and streaming music from artists signed to the label.
Army for Palestine took its campaign to the streets of Seoul in March, when members sent an electronic billboard truck presenting their demands to the South Korean capital's headquarters in Hyeb.
“As an Army it's important because we've always claimed for this fandom … ARMY fandom is supposed to be very involved in activism,” Leela said.
“We hoped to put that empathy, advocacy, grit, progressiveness and organizing skills that we've been known for over the past decade to good use … There are a lot of Palestinian forces.
“We have lost many members of this community to the occupation's brutal war crimes. Many troops in Gaza are experiencing carnage.
Israel's ground and air strikes in Gaza over the past nine months have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, according to official estimates, although a study published last month in the journal Lancet estimated the actual death toll could be as high as 186,000.
Some BTS fans began speaking out about Israel's war on Gaza in November last year, when a clip showing photos of the band members being pulled from rubble in the enclave went viral online. The army for Palestine started at the same time.
The group is run by Palestinian members of the BTS fandom — some of whom are based in the US and Europe — and people from other countries, including India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Deja, another Palestinian member of the group, said that being an Army member “reflects BTS's values of being socially conscious” and caring for other people.
“It's important for us that the Army sees our humanity as Palestinians, however, we think it's very important for us to be in this place as both Palestinians and the Army – to really be ourselves as an advocate for our people in this place.” She told Arab News.
“Honestly, we just want people to care – to care about the Palestinians and see the Palestinians … start listening to the Palestinians and our voices. The most essential tool to fight oppression is community. Anything is possible when you have a community of like-minded people behind you. .”
Although Army for Palestine has been encouraged by the support it has received from the international community, its members have also faced “backlash and harassment” from within the BTS fandom over the past year.
“There is a division … it's definitely disappointing – and it's very scary to see people in our community treating us inhumanely because we Palestinians are asking people to help us,” group member Juju told Arab News.
“Despite the pushback, we've still built a small, beautiful community of empathetic, caring ARMYs who are willing to organize, use their voices for oppressed people, and push for change. Our movement is growing…we're getting louder We will continue to voice.
For KC, an Indonesian army member based in Bogor, West Java, speaking up for Palestine means being a BTS fan, even though members of the K-pop group themselves have not spoken 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 their fans can be influential,” KC told Arab News.
“BTS and ARMY voices are much needed to educate and raise awareness about the genocide going on in Palestine.”
