K-pop megastars BTS release keenly awaited memoir
The K-pop megastars BTS have released their hotly anticipated memoir in South Korea, marking their 10th anniversary as a group.
Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS is the group’s first official book, and contains a chronological summary of their musical career as well as hints at their future endeavours.
Heavy rain kept the crowds away on Sunday morning, but some diehard fans braved the weather to gather in front of the Kyobo bookstore in Gwanghwamun, one of the biggest in Seoul.
Sri Lankan fan Lakshi said that if her excitement were measured on a “one to 10 scale, then it is about a million”.
Aqilah, a fan from Malaysia, said: “I came here since 9am and I finally got this book.”
The book, which is also being released in the US, shot to the top of the Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller lists in May on the strength of its pre-orders.
It was co-written by the South Korean journalist Kang Myeong-seok and members of the band and has been translated into English by Anton Hur, in collaboration with Clare Richards and Slin Jung.
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Rumours about the book began to spread in May when US booksellers shared news that an untitled book with a huge initial print run of 1m copies was coming on 9 July, and that they had been required to sign an affidavit to stock copies on publication day. The book, a Flatiron Books sales official emailed sellers, would have “global appeal” and “massive publicity”.
The scant available details led fans of Taylor Swift to believe the mystery book might be her memoir. Flatiron brought forward its announcement that it was a BTS book by a month.
Over the course of their decade in the limelight, the seven-member boyband have become a global cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums and dominating charts around the world while raking in billions for South Korea’s economy.
“Thank you for saving me when I needed it,” said Audrey, another fan from Malaysia who scheduled a holiday in Seoul to coincide with the memoir’s release. “I wish I could say more, but I am going to cry now,” she added.
The band are on a “hiatus”, with members pursuing solo projects while two of the group complete South Korea’s mandatory military service.
All able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military and, after a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the oldest member of the group, enlisted last year.
His bandmate J-Hope started his mandatory service in April, South Korean media reported at the time.
Before the hiatus, BTS bagged six No 1 hits in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 and all seven members had reached the top songs chart with solo tracks, Billboard said.