Hi, Taehyung-ah 😊🤗 How are you today? I hope that you’re healthy. It has only been a few days since you’ve shared with us how you’ve been sick. I was worried that you were scheduled to film a Running Man episode while you might not have become fully healthy and now, there’s news of you preparing for your military enlistment. I wonder how long you’ve known about this, but looking into the length of time it took for other members to announce their military enlistment and getting in there in just a matter of days or weeks, it might be the same for you and for Namjoonie, Jiminie, and Jungkookie, right? You’ve even cut your hair today. I feel very sad. You might feel even more sad and disappointed while going through and making sense of all these things. I hope you’ll always be safe, Taehyung-ah, but the military isn’t really a very safe place since all those who enlist have to sign a waiver that no one will take responsibility if they died during training, right? That’s why superiors and peers abuse others. That’s very unjust and sinful, and you can’t exercise the basic human right of having the freedom to choose. There isn’t a matter of consent in that regard, and I totally hate that situation. I really wish something can stop that very controlling and unfair politics, or political war. I don’t know if it will make you feel better, but you know that other countries like mine are even multiple times worse than your country. Here, it’s perpetually corrupt and decaying.
Just like what I said in my greetings earlier, I’m at least super grateful that you’ve done so many wonderful projects and that you’ve gotten so many amazing achievements during your solo era, Taehyung-ah, as well as during your time with BTS since 2013. I know you could do more if only you could utilize the two years (and a month) you still have until you turn 30. It’s making me question the point of BTS law and age law in South Korea if the members of BTS themselves won’t be following it and are still forced to serve in the military enlistment before each of you turns 30.
Everyone in Korea, and so many people in different parts of the world, knows how greatly BTS has contributed to the nation and it just looks to us as if the nation is not grateful to your contributions and is actually being unfair despite all the honor you brought to the country, even more than all the athletes in Olympics. You’ve broken world records several times and you’ve gotten among the highest wins and nominations in prestigious music awards both in the East and the West. It seems to me and to many that this act is simply the policy makers being political and the music industry being business as they’re eliminating competition.
BTS is indeed so successful that even every member going solo has achieved more than what K-pop groups and other renowned Western musicians can do, continuously challenging them. You should know, Taehyung-ah, that you indeed have power and your fans and armys too have also hold so much power. If there’s something you’ll despair more, it’s not your label’s sabotage, the music industry’s sabotage or competition, it’s breaking and lessening that potential and impact you have and the strong and solid support of those who love you, and that’s what all these opponents are trying to do to you. There are indeed so many things I’m worried and afraid about you going into the military, but as long as you do not forget who you are and where your power holds, you’ll be able to find ways on how you can triumph.
Here are just recent news about the impact you’re making.
Congratulations on getting Celine’s bracelet sold out in so many stores (exclusively available only in 10 Celine boutiques worldwide, like a limited edition purchase), even almost everywhere, after your IG story. 🥳🎉👏🙌 I often think about your Mute Boston bag that got sold out in just a few seconds, if I could remember, it was only in 2-3 seconds, right?
Congratulations, too, on having gigantically contributed to Korean ramyeon surpassing KRW 1 trillion in exports for the first time after you were seen eating it in Jinny’s Kitchen. 🥳🎉👏🙌That’s superb, Taehyung-ah, and I think with that so much success, there is so much demand for you to be cast in another cooking or eating show again, right? You might not like it when you’re in a strict diet though.
It’s also really wonderful that you’ve made several restaurants in South Korea a must-have on tourists’ list. I, for sure, will go there when I can finally visit South Korea someday, so I very much understand how so many tourists are very eager to dine in the restaurants that touched your heart, and stomach, Taehyung-ah. I remember the ones from your In the Soop: Friendcation show with Wooga, the ones you dined in with your friends and where some armys happened to be dining in as well too, and the ones you have dined in during your video logs and lives are very much sought-after. The restaurant you’re promoting in Daegu must also be super busy every day because of you, Taehyung-ah. And it can be remembered how you are the unofficial tourist ambassador of the city, as well as of Sungwon, in addition to you being the official tourist ambassador of Seoul. Congratulations, Taehyung-ah 🥳🎉👏🙌 I remember how you were given some kind of presidential recognition for getting a lip balm you’ve shared on your post sold out so quickly. That was on the news as well back then, right?
Your very own album has even broken history set almost three decades ago as Layover got over 2M sales in Circle, Hanteo, and over a million in other platforms like MelOn, while being a global success in digital platforms, ranking you as the highest selling Korean act at the time of your album’s release. And it’s just your debut too. You really have so much potential and so much momentum to keep on building. I really wish you’ll have more time, or that you can properly spend your two years for your career before they force you into military enlistment. I just want it to be very fulfilling for you, Taehyung-ah, and we all know you still have so much to show and to achieve. Ah, I feel very sad, even more sad, thinking about it again.
During your solo era, you’ve succeeded in so many fields that an artist can explore. You’ve been on the cover of 5-6 popular magazines like Vogue, Elle, W, Arena Homme+, British Pop, and even featured on Dicon and Esquire. Who can forget how your Vogue Korea covers last year made history as the highest selling Korean content of all time on ktown4u and other platforms? You are indeed an Icon of the Century. 🥳🎉👏🙌
Not only that, you’ve also been the global brand ambassador of 4 brands: Celine, Cartier, Sim Invest, and even Seoul City. 🥳🎉👏🙌 It’s making me think there isn’t just one person living in you since your achievements are equivalent to the achievements of many people. You must have been super busy too.
Your impact is really like that of tidal wave. Like what an Italian magazine said about you during your memorable Paris Fashion Week 2022 appearance for Celine where you draw sooo many people to the event, you are a human tidal wave, Taehyung-ah. Congratulations, once again 🥳🎉👏🙌
Your variety shows were incredibly successful too. There’s In the Soop: Friendcation that topped so many countries in Disney+, Jinny’s Kitchen that also topped so many countries in Prime Video, then your Running Man, You Quiz on the Block, Dingo, Pixid, and premiering Tiny Desk Korea and NPOP, which are fairly new shows while winning and performing in esteemed music shows like SBS Inkigayo, Mnet, Music Bank, and more. You’ve got a lot of nominations for popular Korean year-end award shows like MMA and MAMA too, and even won some of them already. The most recent one is your Idol of the Year Award, a MelOn Special Plaque Award for MMA Top 10. Congratulations, Taehyung-ah 🥳🎉👏🙌
Even your OST, Christmas Tree, shortly before you’ve entered your solo era has made history as the first K-OST to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. And since then, you’ve easily entered the the BB Hot 100 chart with your Love Me Again and Slow Dancing and even made history in the Billboard Hot 200 album with your Layover spending the most number of weeks in the chart. With your album debuting just 6 weeks ago, it has already ranked in Billboard’s 2023 Year-end charts, particularly in Top Album Sales at #4 and Top Current Album Sales at #30. Congratulations, Taehyung-ah 🥳🎉👏🙌
I’m always super proud and happy for you, Taehyung-ah. I’m just always grateful and always confident of all the blessings you’ve received and are coming your way. Keep doing what you love, my love, and don’t let anyone or anything discourage you and take away the important things that make you you, happy, full of life, thoughtful and contemplative. Always remember too that I love you so much, Taehyung-ah. I, and so many of your armys, love you so much. Always remember that. May we always be your friends to make you comfortable. May we be among your many sources of strength and vitality so that you can go beyond and be successful in any endeavor you’ll take this year. We’ll support you through thick and thin. Please take good care of yourself. Eat and sleep properly and keep a healthy lifestyle and optimistic mindset. May your days always be filled with happiness, graces, and blessings. May all your dreams come true and may you be happy, successful, and peaceful in 2023. 👼😘 Borahae, Saranghae, Taehyung-ah. 💜💜💜💚💚💚❤️❤️❤️