BTS is one of the most popular Kpop acts in history, the boys have reached unprecedented success globally, and they are widely recognized for their catchy lyrics and great sound. However, did you know there are tens of songs from the boys that have been banned from public broadcasts in South Korea? These are five examples and the particular reasons why they got banned.
- “Boys With Fun:” The song was included in BTS’ album, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Pt. 1” and it brought a lot of commotion among the K-Netizens because the song featured a Chinese phrase meaning, “Did you eat yet?” which sounds similar to a swear word in Korean, which led to the song’s exclusion from the live broadcast.
- “Can You Turn Off Your Cell Phone?:” At the start of their career, the boys found themselves in a bigger controversy because of a clear reference against the Korean brand, “Lotto.” The song was released on their “DARK&WILD” album in 2014, emphasizing on criticizing the heavy use of cell phones by younger generations.
- “Hold Me Tight:” Another song from, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Pt. 1,” was highly criticized by the K-Netizens of the strong belief the song made explicit references to drinking alcohol, in South Korean culture, alcohol culture is not well received.
- “Dope”: The song is one of the most popular songs in the BTS Catalog, but not everyone knew the song was banned from live broadcast for a simple reason, the song had “vulgar lyrics” that didn’t meet the standards of the South Korean media.
- “Ma City”: One of the highlights of “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever,” caught the attention of South Korean media outlets even before the song was officially released. The song’s ban relies on its reference to the brand, “KIA.”
