BTS's new album promo video sparks whitewashing debate; BIGHIT MUSIC defends the artistic choices amid criticism from Howard University.
March/24/2026 18:04Related Groups & Members
A discussion about whitewashing has arisen from BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan)'s 5th full album 'ARIRANG' promotional video. BIGHIT MUSIC released an animation through BTS's official YouTube channel 'BANGTAN TV' on March 13. This video was produced based on the fact that seven youths from the Korean Peninsula recorded traditional Korean music for the first time at Howard University in the United States in 1896. Many of the characters appearing in the video are white. However, voices have been raised pointing out 'whitewashing,' which is a form of racism centered around America. Whitewashing refers to the act of changing people of color to white in media representations. Howard University, established in 1867, is a prestigious university for Black individuals. In relation to this, Howard University commented that while they view the spotlight on Howard positively, the racial composition is different from reality, stating, 'Even if the video was made with good intentions, cultural sensitivity and historical accuracy are important.' As the controversy intensified, BIGHIT MUSIC clarified through the video's description that 'this content was inspired by the story of seven Korean youths published in the Washington Post on May 8, 1896, and the record of some of them recording Korea's first sound source in Washington D.C. on July 24 of the same year.' They added that 'the historical record containing the actual voices of the young people who came from Korea was restructured and created based on modern imagination, and there may be differences from the facts, which are unrelated to the evaluation and interpretation of historical events and figures.' BTS will release the new album 'ARIRANG' on the 20th, and the title track 'SWIM' has topped music charts both domestically and internationally. All songs from the album have ranked on major charts, with 'Body to Body' being the most loved track. The album's sales are overwhelming, surpassing 4 million copies within three days according to HANTEO chart standards. The British media The Guardian praised the album, stating, 'This album is a result worthy of its status as the world's largest pop phenomenon.' BTS also revealed a group photo in suits and released the animation teaser for the 5th full album 'ARIRANG,' drawing attention from overseas media, stating they have clearly shown their direction.
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