(Big Hit Entertainment)

Fans waiting outside BTS’ Citi Field concert in New York City recently shared their thoughts about why they loved the band so much.

Many fans mentioned the uplifting messages in BTS’ music, saying it had helped them through rough patches in their lives. The bandmates’ interaction with fans and the multicultural community of fans also gave them a sense of belonging.

Here are some quotes from BTS fans, or the BTS Army, explaining why they fell in love with the band.

(Naver's V Live)

Gavriel (Canada): “They saved me from depression. … After listening to BTS, I got my hopes up.”

(Naver's V Live)

Emily (New York, US): “For me, I do have strong anxiety. So whenever I listen to them, especially their calming songs, it brings peace.”

(Naver's V Live)

Guan (Canada): “I’m from Canada, so I flew down here for this. I (had it) pretty normal growing up, but I think … when you’re going through your later teenage years and when you go into postsecondary education, it gets really tough, and that’s when I learned about BTS. I was going through a really tough time, just with school, and a lot of their lyrics just spoke to me. And I like the fact that they write their own music because that is just something I value in an artist. And I’ve met so many amazing people through the fandom. And it’s crazy that, as you can see, there are so many people from different countries, different continents, different states, speaking different languages, and we’re all here to support the same seven people. And I’ve never felt that (sense) of community before in my life.”

(Naver's V Live)

Kelly (Florida, US): “I discovered BTS when I was in school in Hawaii when they came for ‘Bon Voyage’ (a travel-themed reality show), season two. They came to my job. I didn’t know who they were and my friend Anthony, from Korea, he told me, ‘You should check them out because their music is really inspirational.’ And I gave it a chance and I’m like, ‘Wow this music actually has meaning to it. Music nowadays -- it’s different, and it’s not how it was before. I love how BTS actually puts meaning and they take their time to go through everything that they do. It’s not just for our generation, the young people -- it’s for everyone.”

(Naver's V Live)

Illuzi (France and Canada): “I really love BTS because it’s like a family, and I think music from BTS really helps me get through rough times and it heals me, I think -- my heart.”

(Naver's V Live)

Charlotte (Wisconsin, US): “I found BTS through my little sisters, and it has brought me closer with them. We kind of were growing apart as we got older, but BTS’ music brought us all back together.”

(Naver's V Live)

Adrian (Canada): “I started listening to BTS about two years ago. And the reason why I really love them is that they compose and produce their own music. And it’s really not just random stuff. … They talk about serious stuff like (women’s) empowerment. That’s really why I love these guys. And also, I love their choreography. I love dancing. And when I dance (to) some BTS songs, I just feel so happy.”

(Naver's V Live)

Anna (Russia and US): “What BTS means to me … this is the first K-pop group that I ever liked. … (W)hen I discovered them, the amount of interaction they had with their fans really meant a lot to me. And the fact that they appreciate different cultures and they try to incorporate different genres into their music, different messages, and they try to speak (about) the problems that our generation has like difficulties in finding jobs (and) trying to make change in a society that feels like you can’t really do much in.”

Watch the broadcast at https://www.vlive.tv/video/94187.

Naver’s real-time broadcasting app V allows fans to interact with their favorite K-pop stars through live broadcasts. The app is available for Android and iOS. For more information, visit http://www.vlive.tv.

By The Korea Herald (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

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