The 5th International BTS Academic Conference, an event where academics from around the globe discuss scholarly work related to BTS, commenced on the 2nd at the Convention Center of Jeonbuk National University. The two-day conference, which will conclude on the 3rd, has the theme "Next-Generation Hallyu (Korean Wave) and BTS," featuring presentations by 50 researchers representing 10 different countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Czech Republic.
The agenda for the day started with a keynote speech delivered by Professor Lee Ji-haeng from the K-Entertainment department at Jeonbuk National University on the morning of the 2nd. This was followed by a video conversation with Director Bao Nguyen, known for directing BTS's documentary *BTS The Return*. During this discussion, Director Nguyen stated, "It isn’t surprising that there is an academic event focused on BTS," and further noted, "BTS goes beyond just music; it touches upon topics such as globalization, traditional male roles, fan culture, communities, and international movement." When questioned, "Do you consider yourself part of ARMY, director?" he responded, "I’d appreciate it if you'd let me join ARMY," and then expressed, "I truly adore and am very thankful towards BTS."
The global BTS Academic Conference started in the United Kingdom back in 2020 and has since taken place in the United States, South Korea, Malaysia, and several other nations. Professor Emeritus Jin Young-sun from the School of Fine Arts at Seoul National University, an 80-year-old fan known as an ARMY who participated in all five events, remarked, "This provided a chance to reflect on BTS's accomplishments which have surpassed what their service in the military allowed." Having worked together many times with multimedia artist Paik Nam-june, Professor Jin also spoke about shared elements within Paik Nam-june's creative vision and BTS. During this session, he gave a lecture entitled “'Korean-ness' as a Field for Global Connection.”
Throughout this conference, which concludes on the 3rd, various research sessions will take place, featuring topics such as "Self-Insertion AI-Generated Fantasy in BTS ARMY TikTok and the Breakdown of Fandom Culture," "BTS's Bilingual Defiance in American Late-Night Television Programs," "The RM Impact: Fan Engagement within the World of High Art," "Soft Power During the Digital Age: BTS and the Transmission of Cultural Reach," and "Past the Performance: How BTS Is Shaping the Future of Artist-Owned Businesses."
The fifth international BTS academic conference is organized by the International BTS Academic Society (ISBS) and jointly arranged by the administration headquarters of Jeonbuk National University's Namwon Glocal Campus, the Glocal University Project Team, the K-Entertainment Department, and Big Movement.