BTS' new song 'DNA' attracts 10 millon viewers in 8 hours after release

Seven-member boy band Bangtan Boys (BTS) released Monday new mini album titled “LOVE YOURSELF 承 Her.” The new album reflects the changing status of BTS, but it did not dare to challenge or show a new approach this time.

Their status and surrounding environment have changed greatly since this year. BTS whose global fans are rapidly increasing won Top Social Artist at Billboard Music Awards in May.

This latest album was listed as No. 1 on iTunes Top Album chart in 73 countries within 14 hours after its release. The music video for “DNA,” title song of this album, has reached 10 million views in 8 hours and 4 minutes, the fastest among Korean singers. Within South Korea, “Wanna One,” a boy band project formed in August after TV audition program, also saw its rapidly popularity in YouTube.

“LOVE YOURSELF 承 Her” is the first installment of an ongoing project by BTS that will last with mini and regular albums until next year. BTS gained popularity by releasing a series of songs and albums with loosely connected messages such as “school trilogy,” “In the mood for love” and “WINGS.” Their lyrics depicting growing pains have formed the sympathy among the youth, becoming a driving force to attract fans with expectations for next songs.

BTS selected “Love Yourself” as the theme of this album after a lot of thought. “It is hard to love yourself as we live in a world that how others do due to the development of social media,” BTS leader Rap Monster said. “We cannot be sure whether we love ourselves completely, but we just want to think it over from the start.”

imi@donga.com