BTS have been outspoken about their experiences with anti-Asian hate.
Following a series of massage parlours shootings targeting Asian women in Georgia last year, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook spoke out about their own experiences with anti-Asian discrimination.
“It’s not wrong to be different,” BTS member Suga said through an interpreter. “Maybe equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences”.
Another member, V, said that “everyone has their own history”.
“We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and every one as a valuable person,” he added.
Dressed in matching black suits, the seven members group did not take questions from reporters before leaving the White House briefing room to head to their meeting with President Biden.
They’ve “endured expletives without reason” and have been mocked for their appearance, they said.
“We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason”.
Korean
“It’s not wrong to be different,”
“나와 다르다고, 그것은 잘못된 일이 아닙니다. 옳고 그름이 아닌 다름을 인정하는 것으로부터 평등은 시작된다고 생각합니다.”
“우리는 모두의 각자의 역사를 가지고 있습니다. 오늘 한 사람 한 사람이 의미 있는 존재로서 서로 존중하고 이해하기 위한 또 한걸음이 되기를 바랍니다.”