1 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOMENT IN LIFE

5 THERISEOF
BANGTAN

9 ACHIEVEMENTS

13 EVOLUTIONINPICTURES
17 MUSICALANALYSIS

21 YOUTHPORTRAYED
IN HYYH UNIVERSE

25 OIAACAMPAIGN

29 GETTOKNOW

CON
SOUTHKOREA

31

TENTS
ARMY
MESSAGES
FROM
HYYH ERA
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The Rise 花樣
年華
of Bangtan
Written by Mae

2015 was a turning point for both BTS

and ARMY with the creation of Bangtan
Universe, marked with the release of HYYH
Pt.1 on April 29, 2015.
pt.1
Shedding their tough exterior, black
clothes and kohl-lined eyes in exchange
for vulnerability, boyish clothes and soft
eye-makeup, BTS embarked on a journey
to navigate the tumultuous emotions and
relationships of youth. With I Need U as the
lead single, an evident difference in BTS’ style
of conceptualization - which was layered
with heavy symbolism, foreshadowing and
theory-inducing ambiguous ending - was
noticed by fans and critics alike.
The septet went on to achieve their first
music show win since their debut in 2013
on SBS MTV’s The Show.
Expressing their gratitude, the group
updated their Twitter account with a
photo of them and their trophy:
감사드려요!! 너무 얼떨떨해서 무슨 말
을 할 수가 없었네요.. 아미 첫 1위 정
말 고맙습니다. 모두 열심히 했습니다.
진짜진짜 더 멋져질게요. 사랑해요
Thank you!! Because we were too nervous,
we didn’t know what to say…Thank you very
much ARMYs for our first win. Everyone
worked hard. We will really really become
cool. Love you!”
Following the win, ARMY dominated
Twitter by making #BTS1stWin trend
at #1 worldwide.
Post the first win, I Need U went
on to win an additional award on
The Show, MBC’s Show Champion,
Mnet’s M Countdown, and KBS’s
Music Bank, making it five wins for
the mini-album’s single.
Dope [쩔어], the follow-up promotion
single’s music video released on
June 24, hit not only 1M views on
YouTube in less than 15 hours, but
also became the fastest record for
any BTS music video at the time.
The song’s opening line “Welcome,
first time with BTS?” is extraordinarily
fitting as the video went on to even
garner attention internationally and
became the group’s first music video
to surpass 100M views, making it a
first for an idol group outside the “Big
3” Korean entertainment agencies
(SM, YG, and JYP) to achieve this
feat.
Six out of nine tracks from the album
charted on the Billboard World Digital
Songs Chart, making it to top 25 with
I Need U positioned the highest at
#4. The album also debuted at #2 on
the Billboard World Albums Chart,
peaking at #6 on the Billboard Top
Heatseekers Chart and entering the
Billboard Independent Albums Chart
for the first time at #20, all of which
was the highest for any BTS album at
the time. HYYH Pt. 1 was named by
Fuse as one of the “27 Best Albums
of 2015 So Far”, BTS being the only
Korean artist to be mentioned on the
list.
花樣年華
1
HYYH Pt. 1 was BTS’ first album
where the the vocal line contributed
working on writing, production
(or both) alongside the rap line.
Participation from all seven members
not only added more variety to the
process of content creation, but
also showcased members’ growth -
not just as singers but also as well-
rounded artists.
6
花樣 On September 8, 2015, BigHit
年華
Entertainment released the “화양연화 on
Stage: Prologue” video on Naver V
LIVE, announcing BTS’ upcoming
comeback and concert tour 2015
BTS LIVE <The Most Beautiful
Moment in Life On Stage>. Post the
release of the comeback trailer on
YouTube and short clips hinting at
the album release on Instagram,
BigHit also announced the Butterfly
Dream: BTS Open Media Exhibition
event, which was later hosted on
December 1–8 in Seoul and attended
by around 600 fans.
Following the release of concept
photos with the captions Je Ne
Regrette Rien [I regret nothing, in
French] and Papillon [Butterfly], the
lead music video Run was released
a week later. Just like the preceding
mini-album, HYYH Pt. 2 focused
on the narrative of youth, their
sufferings, the varied dynamics of
their friendship and individuality.
At the press conference for their
concert, BTS stated, “Part one
explained how youth is tiring and
difficult, and it also touched on how
we feel like we’re always on edge.
Part two will have a more adventurous
and daring feel to it. That’s why our
title song is ‘RUN’.”
7
pt.2
The video showcased not only the
members’ musical talents, but also
their acting abilities, with a storyline
that connects to the music video
for I Need U and the 화양연화 on Stage:
Prologue video.
Run also went on to be used as
the theme song for a Puma Korea
advertisement [BLAZE_TIME] after
BTS became the spokesmodel for
the brand.
In South Korea, Run became BTS’
first single to debut at number one
on the Melon real-time digital chart.
All nine tracks from the extended
play entered the Gaon Weekly Digital
Chart. Within the first week alone,
sales for the album reached nearly
90,000 copies on the Hanteo real-
time album sales chart.
In the States, HYYH Pt. 2 became
BTS’ first album to enter Billboard
200, peaking at #171.
The album also ranked at #4 on
Billboard’s list of “The 10 Best K-pop
Albums of 2015”, in which the writers
commented that “Pt. 2 solidifies BTS’
place in the K-pop scene as the band
not only showcased their emotional
take on hip-hop with the single
“RUN,” but proved they aren’t afraid
to tackle topics typically avoided by
most K-pop acts.” Run also charted
at #3 on Billboard’s list of “The 20
Best K-pop Songs of 2015.”
YOUNG
FOREVER
As the group’s first compilation album, HYYH Young Forever went on to
HYYH Young Forever contained all become BTS’ best album at the time
tracks from HYYH Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 as it not only peaked at #107 on
alongside remixes and three original Billboard 200 - making it their second
tracks – Epilogue: Young Forever, consecutive album to achieve this
Fire and Save Me. feat, and highest ranking achieved
at the time - but also won the septet
The Epilogue: Young Forever music their first daesang, Album Of The
video was released on April 19, 2016. Year at the 8th Melon Music Awards
It showed the members running in in 2016.
a maze of fences, seamlessly tying
the narrative back to parts 1 and
2 via flashback scenes from the I
Need U, On Stage: Prologue, and
Run videos.
The lead single Fire went on to
become BTS’ fastest music video to
reach 1M views at the time in just
6 hours. The videos for Fire and
Save Me ranked first and second
respectively on Most Viewed K-Pop
Videos in America, Around the World:
May 2016 list revealed by Billboard.
BTS also rose to number 15 in the
artist category on YouTube Music
Global Top 100.
The three original tracks also went
on to secure the top 3 positions on
Billboard World Digital Charts, a
first for any K-pop act. Furthermore,
Fire achieved an ‘all-kill’ on the
South Korean music charts while
simultaneously securing #1’s on all
charts.

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evolution in pictures
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 ARMY'S MOST
beautiful moments
in 2015

2015 was an important time

in BTS’s career.
The year was a significant
milestone that brought many
changes in the lives of not only
BTS themselves but ARMYs
as well. Even though it wasn’t an
easy time, we want to
celebrate the beautiful,
special and important moments
of 2015 in ARMYs
lives together!

What is your most

beautiful moment of 2015
as an ARMY?
Isabelle (20), USA Loreanne (23),
Dominican Republic
I joined the fandom at the end
of 2014, and later on ‘I Need U’ BTS has been such a great
came out. The song was so strength for me. I had such a
different from previous title bad job in 2015. I stayed there
songs. The whole vibe was because I needed the
different yet comforting. experience and a
I remember it took a very long certification for my bachelor’s
time for the M/V to reach 1M degree but the environment,
views. It was such a struggle but
now we reach 1M views like
Patrycja (22), Poland the people and work
were awful. BTS’ music was
it’s nothing. The most there for me when I skipped
I had depression and I
memorable moment is BTS lunch to stay at my desk and cry
harmed myself. They put the
getting their first win on a during lunchtime.
light in my life. I saw how they
music show. It was a milestone
are working hard to achieve their It comforted me to keep on
that changed everything.
dreams. Their passion for music going, that I could do it and
BTS was finally getting the would get through it. When they
and their sincerity.
recognition they deserved. tried to make me leave my last
I started dreaming, and step
It was a beautiful experience.
by step I started looking for the semester at college so I could
This meant everything to BTS
will to live and to achieve goals keep on working, I got the
and you could see the genuine confidence to quit and get a
I want to achieve. The most
gratitude on their faces.
beautiful moment of 2015 was better job for myself. They’re so
Even now, the boys have that
their first win in the music show. inspiring and they give out so
same expression on their faces much strength. No matter how
I was so proud of them and I
every time they win something. bad things turn out for me from
still am. They changed my life
My Underdogs weren’t time to time, they’re always there
and I’m so glad.
Underdogs no more. for me to pick me up,
I’m really thankful.
lift my mood, out a big smile
on my face and support me
through everything. They do for
me what anyone does.
They deserve the world
and more.

32
Ana (21), Philippines
The most memorable moment?
It was when I looked up the
translation of “Whalien’52”.
2015 was one of the hardest
years I have encountered
knowing that an old friend
turned her back on me and
made everyone hate me
because of rumors. Aside from
that I also failed one of my
subjects (due to stress from
friends and family); that’s where
“Young Forever” entered my life.
It’s weird that BTS makes music
that everyone relates to in every
aspect and stage of life.
Currently, due to those events in
the past, I was diagnosed with
anxiety but I’m fighting it and
thanks to “Fake Love” and “Love
Yourself” album I was able to
face my fears and doubt about
myself. I couldn’t thank BTS
more because they basically
saved me (even with how cliché
that may sound). They became
my alter universe. Their songs
became my go-to serenity.
I literally calm down when I think
of “Serendipity”. I think BTS
songs could make your day
extra good or make you feel
nice (as weird as it may sound).
I guess discovering BTS way
back in 2013 was the most
beautiful moment of my life.
33
Shreeya (17), India
I used to be very fickle minded.
I couldn’t continue with anything
for a long time. It was really
pressuring because I thought I
might always be like this.
But I can say that BTS changed
my mentality. I have been a fan
of them since 2015 and I’ll
continue to be a fan forever.
They’ve taught me that if you’re
passionate about something,
you can try hard and it’ll come
your way someday. I am facing a
difficult time right now.
I have had several failures in
things I was sure I wanted to do
Sehar (17), Australia and tried hard for. But I’m not
giving up. I’m going to try until it
BTS has been with me through comes my way.
the hardest times of my life.
When I felt that no one will
truly understand what I was
going through in my early
teenage years, I found BTS who
were young and had music
concepts that weren’t only
based on themes of romance
but also about struggles of not
having dreams. I related with
BTS’s lyrics and ended up us-
ing them as a getaway from the
stressful day-to-day life.
Even when I felt alone, they were
there for me with the hilarious
Bangtan Bombs and uplifting,
inspiring music.
Alia Erina (19),
Malaysia
I can say I was pretty busy
back then because I stayed at a
boarding school and my internet
access was limited.
Somehow I managed to
follow up on BTS even if was
not much. But remember when
people said that BTS comes
into your life when you are at
your downfall? It is [true]. I came
across them when I was lost,
didn’t know what to do with
my studies. They give me hope
that everything will be okay as
long as I have faith in myself
and I work hard and it’s okay if
I didn’t have any dreams right
now because eventually, I will
discover them.
Cortasia (19), USA
My first concert alone was The
Red Bullet Tour in 2015.
I had major social anxiety,
but I still tried to overcome that
to see BTS. I had one of the
best times of my life and felt how
much they loved us.
BTS teaches me to love
myself every day and I am
forever grateful for them.
Emma (15),
Canada/China
BTS helped me through my
middle school years as I was
learning to accept myself more
like an East Asian back in 2015.
Being Chinese & growing up
in Canada, I was taught and
had many negative stereo-
types about me and my culture
shoved in my face for years. My
younger self, seeing these East
Asian men succeeding and
being as amazing as they were
made me realize I didn’t have
to be ashamed of being born
the way I was. They also had
brought a new
perspective on music to me.
When I used to listen to English
songs, I would barely pay
attention to the meaning of
the lyrics. Listening to BTS’
songs and understanding the
lyrics was so eye-opening.
BTS taught me so many things
that myself and many others
needed. They were my escape
and my source of happiness to
life during hard times at school
back then. They just made me
so happy just by existing. Seeing
them finally start to grow more
internationally and getting the
recognition they deserved for all
the hard work they put into the
music was truly amazing.
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Sofie (19), Sweden
2015 was the year when I
started getting back into K-pop
after about a year-long break.
I was still checking up on the
groups that I listened to for new
comebacks but I wasn’t involved
in what was really happening in
the fandoms.
I had just started my second
year of secondary school and
was just really stressed with
all of the assignments we got
so catching up with BTS really
helped me relax and made me
a lot happier. Just watching clips
of them doing silly stuff eased
my stress a lot.
BTS has helped me the most in
the last 2-3 years. I’ve been
extremely stressed out over
several things these past years
and their music and
honestly, just their existence has
really helped me cope with that
even if it was only a little.
I remember that “Spring Day”
really helped me after gradu-
ating. The lyrics hit really close
to home and acted a bit like a
comforting hug.
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Enilyn (23), Panama
The moment that I became an
official ARMY: on September 1st
(yes Kookie’s birthday).
I was listening to “HOLD ME
TIGHT” and I listened to that
song with every part of my heart,
and that changed my whole life
and at that moment I said
“I like it, I do... I really like them”.
So every time I hear that song, I
go back to the time that I
became an ARMY, a truly one.
They changed my life forever;
they are there when I need it the
most. I make my dreams come
true thanks to them. Now I’m
on my journey to go to Korea to
study, but they were my rock to
never give up on this dream. I
want to become a better
person, be the one to truly help
others to heal, to be happy,
bring joy, respect, hope to this
world as they brought to my life.
Maybe it’ll be hard but if they
and their music will be with me,
everything’s gonna be okay.
Hind (17), Morocco
The first video I saw of BTS
was “School of Tears” which
hit home for me because I was
a bystander and I hated it with
my whole heart. My ex-best
friend was getting bullied at the
time but I still didn’t do anything
about it. I was afraid I’ll take her
place. They made rumors about
her, called her names, hit her.
It was a few weeks later that I
discovered the song and after
I read those lyrics something
snapped in me; after that,
I stood up for her.
Well, the bullying never stopped
and I was thrown in the
circle with her, but now that I
look back at it, it really didn’t
matter because I stopped
feeling guilty about my
choices and it somehow made
me happy. BTS really made a
good person out of me and if I
didn’t discover them at that
moment I don’t think I would’ve
lived with the guilt and I’ll never
forget that for the rest of my life.
Sehar (17), Australia
BTS has been with me through
the hardest times of my life.
When I felt that no one will
truly understand what I was
going through in my early
teenage years, I found BTS who
were young and had music
concepts that weren’t only
based on themes of romance
but also about struggles of not
having dreams. I related with
BTS’s lyrics and ended up
using them as a getaway from
the stressful day-to-day life.
Even when I felt alone, they were
there for me with the hilarious
Bangtan Bombs and uplifting,
inspiring music.
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© ARMY MAGAZINE