BTS Speech at Korea’s First Youth Day, 2020 — Video Transcript from Arirang News
Whether it be lyrics, handwritten notes, a video through BANGTANTV or speeches, BTS has always delivered great inspirational, heartfelt messages to everyone across all nations, genders & ages.
Previously, BTS gave speeches at the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September 2018 & delivered a similar message during the virtual commencement “Dear Class of 2020” by YouTube in June of this past year.
To celebrate Korea’s First Youth Day, BTS was invited to the Blue House to give a speech. In their message, they each spoke about their own “roller-coaster” journey of youth to inspire Korea’s future generations.
Along with their heartfelt message, BTS gifted a purple box engraved with the BTS logo as a time capsule to be opened in 2039, to mark Korea’s 20th Youth Day.
In this box, it has BTS musical achievements & memories as well as their love and gratitude to everyone who is cheering for them. A special message for future generations was also included.
The significance of opening the box 19 years later, is that in Korea, the youth of 2039 will become of legal age (19 years old). The gift will be entrusted until then to The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History.
Korea’s First Youth Day was celebrated after a law on the rights and responsibilities of youth aged 19–34 was enacted last month August 2020 called “Framework Act on Young Adults”. The Korean Government also designated the third Saturday in September of each year as Youth Day.
Mark your calendars & see you all on September 17th, 2039 ARMY!
TRANSCRIPT
16:19 to 17:26 — Namjoon, RM
Today we want to send a message to the young people who will be the stars of that future.
Hello, young people of tomorrow. How are you?
First, I want to send a word of encouragement to all the young people of Korea who continue to pioneer new frontiers and live their lives to the fullest in all parts of the world.
Now at the age 27, still young, I’d like to tell the story of certain seven young men who are living dramatic roller-coaster lives.
If you are facing hardships in your life of the future, I hope you will draw strength from our strong from the year 2020.
17:28 to 18:10 — Hoseok, J-Hope
BB chart-topping singers. Global superstars.
These are the laurels being bestowed on us today. But it all still seems absolutely surreal.
In fact, regardless of epoch or era, the profession of “idols,” or artists is a path without signposts.
We set out with nothing but music as our dream, but we don’t know where we’re going whether we’re going uphill or downhill, not knowing as we tire & take a breather whether around the corner is paradise or a pitfall.
That was how we started.
18:12 to 19:01 — Yoongi, SUGA
Seven years ago when we debuted, BTS armed ourselves with drive & hubris, passion & grit to walk a path where nothing could be predicted.
We wanted to succeed, more than anyone.
Debuting with a small company & facing hardships & worries we went on, sometimes recklessly & hardheaded working hard & never looking back.
We didn’t know what to do, but we kept telling ourselves with some despair that this too shall pass, that these will become fond memories.
19:02 to 19:45 — Jimin
It seems we ran without stopping, that we worked hard, but for a long time, we were stuck in place.
People who were by our side & helping us said, “We can’t understand everything, but we’re heartbroken, too. Let’s get through this together.”
Commonplace words maybe, but these warm words gave us strength. To young men without direction, they were a guiding light.
19:46 to 20:20 — Seokjin, Jin
Just past twenty, I had to battle with another reality.
Before debut, I thought hard work would always be enough. But after debut, I needed talent more than effort.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t catch up to the others, & my self-confidence was hard hit.
But suddenly I came to realize something. What is my true self? Can’t I be more confident of who I am now?
Let me trust myself
20:21 to 20:57 — Hoseok, J-Hope
The path BTS was walking on became wider, brighter. We saw the happy faces of our fans, & we thought things will always be great.
But just as we were showered with love & attention beyond our expectations, our shadows became longer & weightier.
It began to press on our hearts that had only love for music.
Who are we? What love are we receiving?
We had to keep grilling ourselves, asking again & again.
20:58 to 21:35 — Taehyung, V
I think we were tired in spirit & body.
I didn’t know where I was going, wondering if this amazing path was really what I wanted.
I felt lost sight of my goal. I wasn’t happy, & I felt emptiness seep through. I tried so hard to pull myself out of this emotional quagmire (dilemma).
Be honest to myself. Feel each emotion & let them out.
[Taehyung says its best to be honest to oneself, feel each emotion & let it out.”]
21:36 to 22:13 — Jungkook
Serendipitously, we all decided to try again, our thoughts on our members & our fans.
We started on an empty road & now we’ve become each other’s signposts.
Thankful for being together, wanted to help each other, these made us realize naturally what we had to do.
We wouldn’t have come this far if we walked alone. We wouldn’t have danced and sang & enjoyed our journey.
22:14 to 23:13 — Namjoon, RM
Around 2018, I remember all the members felt lost after experiencing undeservedly overwhelming success.
Even if our path is always lined with flowers & fruits, we can’t be sure if that’s how it’ll always be.
We never know when things will go downhill again, when the next rainstorm will strike.
At the end of this uncertainty & depression, the 7 of us began to fill each other with dreams & trust, like we were boys again.
And then came August 2020.
1st on the Billboard chart. Then another 1st. Accolades we received when we picked ourselves back up. We all cried tears of thanks.
But what we most appreciate are our members and our fans who for the past 10 years held each other up in the face of despair & surrender.
23:14 to 24:25 — Seokjin, Jin
Dear young people of the future. In the future, even if we face each other as young men and adults, this is the right path.
I like this way.
I am not going to say that this life is wonderful. This is the answer. Young people of Korea have always been strong, extraordinary.
Instead, just as BTS did in 2020 so that momentary happiness and unhappiness do not influence the whole life. We will always keep you standing up on your own.
We will encourage you to help and rely on it together. Like the young people of yesterday, like the young people of today, I hope that you will not stop and continue walking energetically as you have done so far.
I hope that you will change the world with your wonderful thoughts, and in turn, become the beacons to guide the young people of the future.
BTS will always cheer for the young people of Korea. Thank you.
END
Event: Korea’s First Youth Day
Speech by: BTS, Kim Namjoon (RM), Kim Seokjin (Jin), Min Yoongi (SUGA), Jung Hoseok (J-Hope), Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung (V), and Jeon Jungkook.
Date and time: September 19th, 2020, KST
Location: Blue House, Seoul, South Korea
Written & Transcribed by Admin C.
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