Jakarta: Fans of BTS, the world's biggest K-pop band, are calling on the group's record label to divest from Israeli-linked organizations and use their fans' talents to campaign for social justice in support of Palestine.
BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan or the “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” is a seven-member K-pop boy group that has become one of the most profitable franchises in the music industry since its debut in 2013. The millions of BTS fans around the world are collectively known as ARMY.
The large fan base has grown immensely in popularity over the years, known for online activism and making headlines around the world as members raise millions of dollars for charity and launch viral social media campaigns.
Some fans are now part of a group called ARMY for Palestine and have coordinated efforts aimed at record label Hybe Corporation, calling on the company to cut ties with the label's US CEO, Scooter Braun, over his support for Israel.
“We have an ongoing Hybe divestment campaign, where we call on Hybe to divest from Zionist companies and their associates, including Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun,” Lila, a Palestinian member of the group, told Arab News.
In X, Leela and her friends promoted the #HybeDivestFromZionism campaign, which not only called for Braun to be fired, but also for fans to stop buying albums, merchandise, and streaming music from artists signed to the label.
ARMY for Palestine took the campaign to the streets of Seoul in March, with members sending electronic billboards to the headquarters in Hyde, South Korea's capital, to communicate their demands.
“As an ARMY, it’s important because this is what we claim to be fans all along… ARMY is known for being very involved in fan campaigns,” Lila said.
“We hope to put to good use the compassion, support, assertiveness, progressiveness and organizing skills we have gained over the past decade … There is a large Palestinian army.
“We have lost many members of this community to the brutal war crimes of the occupation group. There are many armies in the Gaza Strip and they are suffering genocide.”
Israeli ground and air strikes over the past nine months have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to official estimates. However, a study published in The Lancet last month estimated the real death toll could be much higher, at 186,000.
Some BTS fans began talking about Israel's war in Gaza last November, when a clip showing the members being pulled out of the rubble in Gaza went viral online, and ARMY for Palestine was launched around the same time.
The group is run by Palestinian members of the BTS fan club, some of whom are in the United States and Europe, and people from other countries, including India, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Another Palestinian in the group, Deeja, said being an ARMY meant reflecting “BTS’ values of social awareness” and caring for others.
“For us, it’s important that the army sees our humanity as Palestinians, so we think that’s why it’s so important for us to be both Palestinian and the army, that we can be authentic as supporters of our people in this space,” she told Arab News.
“Honestly, we just want people to care, to care about Palestinians and to see Palestinians … start listening to Palestinians and our voices. The most important tool to fight oppression is community. Anything is possible if you have a community of like-minded people behind you.”
While ARMY for Palestine has been buoyed by the support they have received from the international community, their members have also faced “backlash and threats” from within the BTS fandom since last year.
“There is a discrimination… It is something very depressing and scary to see people who are in the same community as us discriminating against us just because we are Palestinians who ask for help from others,” Suzu, a member of the group, told Arab News.
“Despite the resistance, we have built a beautiful little community of compassionate and caring ARMYs who are willing to organize, use their voices for the oppressed, and push for change. Our movement continues to grow… We will continue to make our voices heard.”
For Casey, an Indonesian ARMY member living in Bogor, West Java, speaking out in defense of Palestine is part of what it means to be a BTS fan, even though the K-pop group has yet to speak out about the violence in Gaza.
“BTS is the biggest K-pop group and ARMY is the biggest fandom. The voices of idols and their fans can be influential,” Casey told Arab News.
“BTS and ARMY’s voices are sorely needed to educate and raise awareness about the genocide currently taking place in Palestine.”
