BTS to visit White House next week to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes

BTS attends the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. [GETTY IMAGES]

BTS will visit the White House to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday to “discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and celebrate AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander) Heritage Month.”

May is AANHPI Heritage Month.

On Thursday, the White House said through a press release that “global K-pop phenomenon and Grammy-nominated musical group from the Republic of Korea BTS […] will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years.”

Upon meeting, the band will “discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion,” the press release reads, as it is “youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world.”

It is not BTS’s first time speaking out against anti-Asian hate crimes. Last year, the band posted a statement on its Twitter account following a series of anti-Asian violence, including the Atlanta spa shootings.

“We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians,” the statement, which has over 2.5 million likes as of Friday, reads. “We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English.”

Last November, during a press conference for its “Permission to Dance on Stage in LA” concerts, RM said that he “wishes to voice out [about anti-Asian hate crimes] whenever possible” and that “even though [BTS] did not grow up in the U.S., there were always obstacles. When looking back, it is an honor to be able to uplift Asians who live abroad through [BTS’s] music.”

According to CNN, there have been more reported cases of anti-Asian hate crimes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“More than 10,000 hate incidents against AAPI [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders] persons were reported to advocacy organization Stop AAPI Hate between March 19, 2020, and December 31, 2021,” CNN said.

Following the news of BTS’s plan to visit the White House, RM posted on fan community platform Weverse that the band is taking part in “a good thing” and that “we’re going thanks to you guys [BTS’s fans].”

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]