A TV special delves into BTS's success, highlighting their innovative use of social media and meaningful lyrics that resonate globally.

The secret of BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan)'s hit is featured in 'Saku Saku Himuhimu ☆ Oshi no Furu Yoru', gathering attention. Daisuke Sakuma (Snow Man) and Yuki Himura (Banana Man) serve as MCs for NTV's 'Saku Saku Himuhimu ☆ Oshi no Furu Yoru'. In the broadcast on April 11 (Saturday), they deeply explored the globally popular K-POP artist BTS. Debuting in 2013, they have numerous hit songs, including 'Dynamite', which has surpassed an astonishing 2 billion views on YouTube. Due to members preparing for military service, there was a hiatus in 2022, but all members have since completed their service, and this year, they have decided to hold a world tour for the first time in 7 years, officially resuming activities. Sakuma mentioned several hit songs like 'Dynamite' and 'Butter', showing he is aware of their immense popularity. However, Himura honestly admitted, 'I'm really sorry. How many members are there again? I'm that out of touch.' ◆ After about 4 years, activities resume! What is the charm of globally popular BTS? Why is BTS so supported worldwide...? The character 'Oshitsujisan', who teaches the charm of favorites, became a fan after appearing with BTS on the show in 2018, and has even made headlines for interacting with members on social media. Also, dancer NOSUKE (Team 'S'pecial), who loved BTS so much that he kept dancing to their songs, ended up serving as a backup dancer on their Japan tour. ◆ BTS, who was not noticed at debut, what was the reason? It is surprising that such a globally popular BTS was hardly noticed by the media at the time of their debut in 2013. Saito explained the background, saying, 'They were from a relatively new agency, and at that time, there were large entertainment agencies in Korea called the 'Big 3', and BTS was not able to gain visibility even within Korea.' At that time, if you didn't debut from a major agency, it was difficult to get opportunities to appear on famous music programs, and BTS's debut showcase was almost empty, living together in a small dormitory with 7 members, which was a harsh start. ◆ Key Point! The secret of BTS's hits ① Innovative SNS strategy So how did they grow into a globally popular group? BTS, who was not noticed by the media at debut, used SNS to raise their profile. Saito explained BTS's unique strategy, saying, 'They actively shared their communal life and cooking on their official blog and SNS.' Nowadays, it is becoming common for idols and artists to share such private 'behind-the-scenes' aspects on SNS. However, Sakuma mentioned that the way idols and artists show their 'behind-the-scenes' was a groundbreaking effort at that time, saying, 'BTS has almost changed that perception.' Furthermore, there was a trigger that allowed BTS to gain many American fans right after their debut. While BTS is often associated with a fresh and cool image, they were originally a serious hip-hop group. Sakuma was impressed by the music video of their debut song 'No More Dream', saying, 'It's so hardcore! Wow, this vibe is great!' According to NOSUKE (Team 'S'pecial), 'The members love hip-hop and actually learned their roots from local big rappers, producers, and dancers, which led them here.' Their serious performances with respect for American music captivated the hearts of the locals. ◆ Key Point! The secret of BTS's hits ② Songs that frequently use Korean lyrics BTS boasts global popularity, and since some members speak English fluently, they have songs with entirely English lyrics like 'Dynamite' and 'Butter'. However, the majority of their songs are based on Korean lyrics, which is a characteristic of BTS and a secret to their popularity. For example, in 'I NEED U', released in 2015, English lyrics are used as an accent, while the most important parts are sung in Korean. Saito explained the reason BTS emphasizes Korean lyrics, saying, 'The members are involved in writing and composing.' By using Korean lyrics that can convey their feelings more honestly and deeply, they create songs that resonate with many people. Looking at the lyrics of 'Tomorrow', released in 2014, it expresses the real feelings of young people, such as 'The same every day, repeating every moment. My half-hearted life. For a NEET in their 20s, tomorrow is nothing but fear.' Saito explained that these lyrics were revised from lyrics written before their debut, reflecting the real anxieties and frustrations the members felt at that time, not knowing if they could debut. Sakuma also empathized with the world and deep meaning of the lyrics, saying, 'Many people might be touched by it. It's wonderful!' Saito continued from the discussion about BTS's lyrics, saying, 'I think this applies to Snow Man too.' Himura was amazed, saying, 'What a wonderful story!' revealing valuable behind-the-scenes stories about the commonalities between Snow Man and BTS, which will be available in the complete version on TVer and Hulu. ◆ Key Point! The secret of BTS's hits ③ Deeply meaningful trilogy of albums Lastly, the secret to BTS's popularity is the narrative world of their albums. BTS has grouped their released albums into trilogies of three, creating a single story through these trilogies. They have produced three trilogies: 'School Trilogy', 'Youth Trilogy', and 'LOVE YOURSELF Trilogy'. Among these, in the 'LOVE YOURSELF' series that started in 2017, BTS sent strong social messages, attracting attention from young people worldwide. The representative song of the first album 'LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her'' in the 'LOVE YOURSELF' series, 'DNA', expresses the joy and excitement of finding fateful love with a positive message. The representative song of the second album 'LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear'', 'FAKE LOVE', addresses themes of betrayal, despair, and disappointment in love. The representative song of the third album 'LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'', 'IDOL', emphasizes the importance of loving oneself. Through these three albums, BTS conveys the message of 'no matter how hard it gets, let's cherish ourselves' to their fans. Regarding these three albums, Sakuma expressed his fascination with the story development created by the albums, saying, 'Just a moment ago, we were talking about being fateful partners, and suddenly it's FAKE LOVE!? What's going on!' The reason for sending the message contained in the 'LOVE YOURSELF' trilogy was articulated by member RM in a speech at the United Nations. Himura was also impressed by RM's powerful words that saved many young people, saying, 'That's wonderful.' And at the end, there was a precious video message from the seven members of BTS to Sakuhimu and the ARMY (the name for BTS fans in Japan). Sakuma and Himura were shocked by the sudden development, saying, 'What!? No way? Are you serious?' After hearing the message, Sakuma expressed his gratitude, saying, 'Thank you!' and became deeply enchanted by the charm of the superstar. Even Himura, who was not very familiar with BTS, was delighted, saying, 'They said the message all in Japanese,' and began to fall for BTS's charm. ■ Broadcast Information 'Saku Saku Himuhimu ☆ Oshi no Furu Yoru' Broadcast Date: April 11, 2026 (Saturday) 23:30-23:55 NTV Cast: Daisuke Sakuma (Snow Man), Yuki Himura (Banana Man) Chief Producer: Naoko Yano Producer: Moeto Kashiwabara Director: Koudai Tamura Production Cooperation: Deji Company The Works Production Copyright: NTV Free distribution on TVer after broadcast ■ Related Links 'Saku Saku Himuhimu' Official Site