Watch: BTS wows UNGA with ‘Permission to Dance’ performance inside assembly hall
BTS: What you need to know BTS is a South Korean boy band who debuted in 2013. (NCD)
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NEW YORK — K-pop supergroup BTS took to a truly global stage Monday, performing their worldwide hit, “Permission to Dance,” at the United Nations General Assembly while pleading for world leaders not to discount the power of youthful energy, drive and focus when tackling world problems.
Meanwhile, the seven-member boy band’s legions of fans flocked to the U.N.’s official YouTube channel, as well as other platforms, to watch the address and performance, driving nearly 1 million views, The Washington Post reported.
Now is the proudest moment in my life. Thank you for being there for us, speaking on behalf of the youth, inspiring us and giving us courage! We love you @BTS_twtpic.twitter.com/vJGU0PwdI4
BTS bounded to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in the United States on Aug. 30, becoming the first Korean pop act to debut at No. 1, Reuters reported.
According to the news outlet, the fully vaccinated supergroup filmed a music video for “Permission to Dance” in the world body’s New York headquarters over the weekend, “dancing through the General Assembly hall and out into the gardens.”
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Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of the South Korean band BTS, from left, J-Hope, Jung Kook, Suga, Jimin, partially obscured, Jin and RM arrive to security check-in at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, Pool)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of the South Korean band BTS descend an elevator at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, during the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, Pool)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS exit after speaking at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of the South Korean K-pop band BTS appear at the Sustainable Development Goals meeting during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, from left, V, Suga, Jin, RM, Jung Kook, Jimin and J-Hope appear at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, Jimin, left, and J-Hope speak at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of of South Korean K-pop band BTS, from left, V, Suga and Jin appear at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS Jung Kook, left, and Jimin appear at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly RM, of the South Korean K-pop band BTS, speaks at the Sustainable Development Goals meeting during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Boy band BTS addresses United Nations General Assembly V, of the South Korean boy band BTS, left, speaks as his bandmate Suga listens at the United Nations high-level meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (John Angelillo/Pool Photo via AP)
The video debuted during an event on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, considered a “blueprint for fighting poverty and hunger, confronting the climate crisis, achieving gender equality and much more,” according to a statement about the SDG Moment 2021 movement, Billboard reported.
The plans also aims to address the following issues within the next decade: quality education; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; sustainable cities and communities; and responsible consumption and production, the magazine reported.
BTS, named the U.N.’s Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture, also appeared in person at the General Assembly event. Introduced by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the group’s members praised the resilience of youth, proclaiming they are not “COVID’s lost generation,” Reuters reported.
“I think it’s a stretch to say they’re lost just because paths they tread can’t be seen by grown-up eyes,” said BTS group leader Kim Nam-Joon, known as RM.
Kim Seok-Jin, known as Jin, added: “Instead of the ‘lost generation,’ a more appropriate name would be the ‘welcome generation’ because instead of fearing change, this generation says ‘welcome’ and keeps forging ahead.”
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