K-pop group BTS' memoirs to be released in July

The members of the K-pop group BTS will publish their memoirs on July 9. A block of 544 pages said their American publisher. An announcement that has aroused an outpouring of enthusiasm from their fans around the world, as well as a date in the form of a tribute, since it will mark the 10th anniversary of the creation of ARMY, their community of fans.

Titled Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, the book was written by South Korean journalist Kang Myeong-seok and members of the boy band, according to the publishing house.

The French version will be published on the day of the worldwide release by Editions du Seuil, said this house on Twitter. The publisher told AFP that it had planned a first print run of 100,000 copies, illustrating the popularity of Korean culture among the younger generations in France.

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The boy band, widely regarded as South Korea's most important cultural phenomenon, fills stadiums around the world and has dominated global charts since its inception in 2013. A major economic asset for the country, BTS participates in strengthening Korean soft power by attracting tourists and promoting the visibility of Korean brands abroad. In 2017, 800,000 tourists chose South Korea as their destination thanks to BTS.

Notably, the US presidency had invited the group to the White House in May 2022, seeing BTS as "youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and optimism" to the world, according to Joe Biden.

The septet records in 2021 an annual turnover of more than one billion dollars, thanks to online content and album sales. It is with its title Dynamite that the group explodes the records in 2021, reaching 101 million views in just 24 hours.

On social networks, fans no longer hide their expectations. US publisher Flatiron Books wrote on Instagram on Thursday: "Who's impatient? (...) #livreBTS". Before sharing an article about the book soon to be published. One fan on Twitter rejoiced: "I can't wait to read the book... It's so cool to be able to look back on the last 10 years with BTS."

After the appearance a few days ago on sales platforms of an untitled book of the publishing house to be published in July, social networks and online forums had been drowned in speculation about this possible publication by a celebrity, reports the Washington Post.

Internet users had speculated that it was a book by American singer Taylor Swift. The mystery book had risen to the top of the bestseller rankings at Amazon and the bookseller Barnes and Noble, after the opening of pre-orders.

The BTS are currently on hiatus, allowing the band members to devote themselves to solo projects while two of them complete their compulsory military service. In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve at least 18 months in the army. After years of debate over whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the eldest of the group, was the first to submit to it in 2022, ahead of J-Hope in April 2023.