On September 23, Korean boy band BTS gave a speech about everyone's struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BTS shared a video message of hope as part of the high-level meeting for the Group of Friends of Solidarity's Global Health Security launched by South Korea in 2020 to discuss health security issues such as COVID-19.
The Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security involves 40 UN member states, with South Korea, Denmark, Sierra Leone, Qatar, and Canada as co-chairs.
BTS' speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly aimed to leave the message "Let's live on in a new world," encouraging everyone to break free from despair and support one another in warm solidarity.
The boys gave their thoughts about the impact of COVID-19. They also share their realization of being the light that shines into the world of darkness.
Firstly, BTS leader RM recalled his experience from two years ago, when the group gave a speech at the UN, urging the viewers to speak up. "Our world tour was canceled, all of our plans went away, and I felt alone. I looked up and couldn't see the stars at night," said RM.
Then, Jimin stated that he felt hopeless, everything fell apart, and he could only see his window, where space was limited. "Yesterday, I was singing and dancing with fans worldwide, and now my world had shrunk to a room. And then, my friends took my hand, and we comforted each other and talked about what we could do together."
Suga described how his life became simple for the first time after his debut, and it was a precious time, unwanted but welcome. The BTS member continues that he is already used to have his world shrinking in an instant, to be on tour and standing in bright lights with fans screams, but at night back in his room, his world becomes only a few paces wide.
He added the room itself is small, but his world and the world they have created reached far and wide, wherein this world, they have their instruments, phones, and especially their fans.
Member V added, "But this time it's different. It felt lonelier and smaller." He realized it was maybe because the act of imagining became harder.
V stated that he felt frustrated and depressed, but took notes, wrote songs, and thought of whom he was, explaining that he is not the star of his life if he gave up here. "This is what an awesome person would do," V said.
After that, J-Hope shared that BTS had embraced those emotions and the seven of them began to make music together, adding that this is where the music originated from, which made them honest. "Our lives are unpredictable. We don't know the answers. I knew where I want to go, but not how I could get there. All I did was trust ourselves, do my best, and love what I do."
Jin appended that he found the people he loves again, his friends, family, the other BTS members, the music he loves, and also, he found himself in that process. Jin left a message that says thinking about the future and trying hard is all-important, but cherishing yourself, encouraging yourself, and keeping yourself happy are the essential things in life.
Meanwhile, Junkook recalls one night as BTS were working together, RM said to him that he couldn't see the stars anymore, but saw his face reflected in the window.
"Our songs became the stories we wanted to tell each other. We live in uncertainty, but in reality, nothing changes. If there's something I can do, if our voices can give strength to people, then that's what we want, and that's what we'll keep going."
Then finally, RM stated, "BTS will be there with you." he continued that tomorrow may be dark, painful, complicated, and we might stumble or fall, but the stars shine the brightest when the night is darkest.
And if the stars are hidden, we'll let the moonlight guide us. Even if the moon is dark, let their faces be the light that helps us find our way.
This is the second time BTS had a partnership with the United Nations General Assembly. The group had previously given a speech at UNICEF's Generation Unlimited at the 73rd UN General Assembly in 2018.