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What BTS are doing during the coronavirus pandemic: offering Korean lessons and sending love and support to fans

  • BTS are the stars of a new 30-part online series that teaches the Korean language and culture to international fans
  • The band’s label Big Hit Entertainment says it will create similar content using its other artists

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The coronavirus pandemic means BTS can’t tour; instead they are teaching Korean language and culture to their overseas fans. Photo: Handout
The Korea Times

By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop giant BTS’ label Big Hit Entertainment has unveiled an online/mobile Korean learning programme using BTS content to help international followers study and learn the language. The first three episodes of “Learn Korean with BTS” were uploaded this week on the band’s Weverse fan community. Each episode lasts three minutes.

Big Hit has reconstructed existing BTS content – including videos from its ongoing variety show Run BTS! – to make it suitable for Korean education. The 30-part programme will teach Korean expressions frequently used by the members, simple grammar and lessons about Korean culture.
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Heo Yong, a professor of Korean language education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, joined forces with the Korean Language Contents Institute to develop a curriculum.

Existing BTS content is being reformed for educational use. Photo: Handout
Existing BTS content is being reformed for educational use. Photo: Handout
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“We have developed new K-pop content to enhance fans’ accessibility to learn Korean,” Big Hit said. “We hope global fans can better resonate with K-pop songs and appreciate diverse content by studying Korean.”

The label hinted it would also create similar educational content featuring other Big Hit artists.

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