Broadcast date: Oct. 31
Starring: BTS

Ever since BTS launched its own channel in July 2015, the boy band has uploaded close to 600 videos, which together have earned over a billion views. If every one of the world’s 7.5 billion people could only watch a BTS V Live video once, that would be more than 1 out of 7.

RM’s English tutorials

(Naver's V Live)

RM is clearly the most fluent English speaker in BTS. The BTS leader held an English tutorial for his bandmates -- and any fan who cared to join them -- called “One-Minute English.”

RM sat down with the members trying to impart his wisdom.

“Taehyung, can you say ‘thanks for the 4 million views’ and ‘I love you, Army!’ in English?” RM asked V.

Without a moment’s hesitation, V replied, “You’re my everything.” Not exactly a perfect translation, but close enough -- and really charming, too.

Some of the most popular moments from RM’s English lessons included the band leader’s attempts to teach Jungkook how to use the phrase “pardon” in a variety of contexts -- an effort to make the group’s youngest member more polite and presentable.

“There are numerous situations in which you can use this phrase,” RM said. “For example, when someone is talking nonsense, you can say it to the person as a way of asking him to repeat himself. So you pretend like you didn’t hear it and say, ‘Pardon?’”

“Let’s put this into a real-life context,” RM said. “If I asked you to lend me the shirt you’re wearing, what would you say?”

Jungkook picked up the lesson pretty quickly.

“Pardon?” he asked.

“There you go,” said RM. “This phrase is so useful because you can invalidate absurd requests, and they can’t get mad at you because it’s like you didn’t understand them.”
Jungkook not only got an English lesson, but a valuable life lesson too.

Watch the clip at https://www.vlive.tv/video/96304/playlist/96429.

BTS’ four “country boys”

(Naver's V Live)

Four of the BTS boys come from South Korea’s southeastern region, an area known as the Gyeongsang provinces. The Gyeongsang provinces have a distinct dialect, not at all like the standard Korean spoken in Seoul. Jimin and Jungkook are from the southeastern coastal city of Busan and Suga and V are from Daegu, which is north of Busan.

Jimin, Jungkook, Suga and V started a video series called “Mandakko,” a Gyeongsang-area expression that means “to do what” or “for what.”

In one episode, Jimin seemed sure that his Gyeongsang accent was gone after the years he’d spent in the capital, saying he’d thought of “canceling ‘Mandakko’” because he spoke “just like any Seoul citizen.”

“I’m a Seoul person now,” Jimin said, obviously joking. “I don’t think I can do this anymore because I don’t sound like I’m from the provinces anymore.” Which was hilarious to any native Korean speaker because his speech was so heavily accented.

Watch Jimin’s “Mandakko” clip at https://www.vlive.tv/video/96302.

“Global V Live Top” ceremony

(Naver's V Live)

The BTS members suited up for the “V Live Top 10” event back in February, which featured the boy band exclusively. Looking sharp in formalwear and ties, the members looked back on the past on the V Live platform.

The event also featured video messages from the band’s fans around the world, including some from Italy and Egypt.

(Naver's V Live)

“Thanks for giving us a precious segment of time away from your life,” said Jimin in response to the fans.

“Being on V Live gave us a chance to connect with fans on a new level,” Jungkook said, thanking both the fans and V Live for the opportunity.

Watch the event at https://www.vlive.tv/video/96307.

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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