The use of BTS and BLACKPINK’s songs at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics sparked debate on social media. K-pop was present at the sporting event.
After BTS was included in the parade of the South Korean delegation at the opening of Tokyo 2020, K-pop has continued to be present at the sports tournament of the season.
In social networks, Internet users have viralized the “victory songs” or themes that sound after South Korean athletes win their competitions at the Olympic Games.
Before exposing what happened between the fandoms of BTS and BLACKPINK, it should be known that, according to a South Korean radio host, a large group of athletes who traveled to Japan had requested that Bangtan songs be played when they win any of their competitions.
Hence, K-pop fans were surprised when BLACKPINK’s “Boombayah” was heard culminating in the women’s team archery versus final. The last arrow gave South Korea victory over Russia.
After the competition, during her statements to the press, the captain of the Korean women’s team revealed that they had originally requested BTS’s “Dynamite”.
“Maybe there was a mistake,” said goalkeeper Kang Chae Young, adding that she hopes to hear the Bangtan theme if she wins the gold medal in her individual competition. In this event, she is among the favorites on the podium with her compatriots An San, Jang Min Hee, American Mackenzie Brown and Mexicans Alejandra Valencia and Aida Román.
The narration by Kang generated a whole debate in South Korea and abroad, since BTS and BLACKPINK own one of the largest fandoms in the world.
Following this incident, the South Korean men’s archery team celebrated their gold medal with BLACKPINK’s “Boombayah” and “Kill this love”.
But BLACKPINK and BTS aren’t the only South Korean artists to cheer up the competition venues – it’s their songs. The tracks of STAYC, Tomorrow x Together, EXO, BIGBANG, and more were also noted.
