Historical Context:

Before exploring political discourse in BTS' discography, one should examine how past musicians utilized songs as vessels to channel their opposition. Indeed, there is extensive discussion today about politics in entertainment, but this is not a new phenomenon. In fact, various avenues of communication were used in a commercial sense during World War I. Let's take a look at an example:

In 1915, it was common for Americans to hold a neutral mentality towards the first World War. This anti-war public sentiment was reflected in the cultural artifacts of the time. Just a year into the war, "I did not raise my boy to be a soldier" (performed in the above clip by Peerless Quartet). The commercially successful anti-war record was spotlighted in the American anti-war movement, which opposed US entry in the first world war (Video Lesson 6).

Reflecting back on this piece, listeners can ascertain that mass communication technologies, such as the radio, made it possible for civilians to amplify their views during times of uncertainty. In the modern age, BTS also utilizes the radio to transmit information, addressing political and social dissent in their music.

The Peerless Quartet (known as the Columbia Quartet prior to 1908) circa 1923. From left to right; John H. Meyer, Henry Burr, Frank Croxton, Albert Campbell.

Released: 2013

"No More Dream" and "N.O"

Perhaps the best way to open the exploration of BTS critiquing societal constructs is via their first couple of releases. Their very first single, "No More Dream" implores their fans to follow their own dreams rather than fall prey to societal expectations (Herman 2018). "N.O", released later that year, bears similar sentiments. At the time, BTS themselves were just teenagers; the members could relate to and serve as advocates for South Korean youth against the country's extreme rigidness on education. Within this culture, BTS felt there was little room for mistake with the pressures placed on students to enter the most prestigious universities. Therefore, these songs serve as social commentaries on how adults leave little room for the younger generation to pursue their own individual dreams in a standardized system seeking for the conformity of thought.

The lyrics "In Seoul to the SKY" are a double entendre. The first meaning is that parents have sky-high scholastic expectations for their children, almost impossible to reach unless they metaphorically stand on the backs of their classmates to reach them. The second alludes to those very expectations, because SKY is an acronym for the top three most prestigious universities in Korea: Seoul University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (Herman 2018).

Released: 2015

Dope

On this track, the rappers of the group utilize their verses to relay pointed messages to the Korean media and adults that belittle the younger generation's attempts to succeed in life:

"the media and adults say we have no willpower and look at us as if we're investments" - Suga

With this song, BTS illuminates the unfairness of berating the young generation's "lack of motivation" when the society they are being raised up in offers little room for social mobility. As noted by Vox, BTS' lyrics are "socially conscious and especially attuned to describing the pressures of modern teen life in South Korea" (Romano).

RM’s post-chorus rap sheds the most light on South Korean Society; he refers to the “Sampo, “Ohpo” and “Yookpo” generations. As noted by Tamar Herman, "In Korean, 'sam,' 'oh,' and “'yook' are the numbers three, five, and six...he is referring to a popular expression that references what people have to give up in the face of economic difficulties and societal ills: Those who are considered part of the 'sampo generation' gave up on having romantic relationships, marriage, and children, the young 'ohpo' gen isn’t able to achieve the first three along with not being able to find proper employment or own their own homes, and the younger 'yookpo' generation encompasses forgoing those previous desires as well as giving up on general relationships and social life. The latter is also a homonym for 'beef jerky,' with RM declaring that 'I like beef jerky so it’s yookpo generation [for me]'" (2018).

Released: 2015

The Impact: BTS' critique of the socio-economic disparities in South Korean society struck a chord among Harvard law students. In fact, they used the song to form the crux of their conclusive argument at the end of a paper discussing Geofence Warrants and the Fourth Amendment. The students argue that the Court dawdles on serious concerns about declaring such warrants as unconstitutional. To back their stance, the students call upon BTS' Silver Spoon argument that “society often refuses to change and even perpetuates inherently unbalanced social structures and yet blames the disadvantaged for not being able to keep up” (Harvard Law Review).

Silver Spoon (Crow-Tit)

You might be wondering why this track has two different names. Well, each one contains common motifs repeated throughout BTS' catalog and also reference specific South Korean societal concepts. The first alludes to a metaphor popular in Korea (as well as the West) about individuals born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The idea is that people are born with varying spoon values (from gold to dirt) referencing both their socio-economic status as well as their unstable generational inheritance from predecessors (Herman). The second title is "Baepsae" in Korean, (meaning "crow-tit/try-hard). Here, BTS play with the Korean idiom: "If a crow-tit (or parrotbill) tries to follow a stork, it’ll split its legs" (Swara). This saying urges the lower class to stay in their lane, rather than try to reach unattainable heights. BTS call out the injustices of this system and implore the younger generation to embrace their underdog situation and work diligently to prevail against the biases of others.

Am I Wrong?

Yet another song created to address the underlying issues in South Korean society. Here, the group reintroduces the persistent "stork versus crow-tit" battle, and includes a new metaphor comparing citizens to "dogs and pigs". This is not a random metaphor, considering the song was released shortly after a Ministry of Education official reportedly said that South Korea needs a caste system, and described civilians as "dogs and pigs" who should be treated as such (Herman). In Suga's rap, he says "We’re all dogs and pigs/ we become dogs because we’re angry", subtly addressing the controversial comment and interjecting the notion that people become more animalistic when angered by unfair treatment.

Released: 2016