Photos: BTS gaining respect in the US
"Dynamite," the group's first all-English song, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. music charts this week, making BTS the first Korean pop act to top the chart. The upbeat song even supplanted "WAP," the raunchy smash hit by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, to claim the No. 1 position.
BTS
South Korean music band BTS pose for the photographers during the news conference of 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
2017 American Music Awards - Press Room
Members of BTS pose in the press room at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
2018 Billboard Music Awards - Show
BTS performs "Fake Love" at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
UN General Assembly Youth
Members of the Korean K-Pop group BTS attend a meeting at the U.N. high level event regarding youth during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
2019 Billboard Music Awards - Show
BTS perform "Boy With Luv" at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
South Korea BTS
In this April 24, 2019, photo, members of South Korean K-Pop group BTS arrive to attend The Fact Music Awards in Incheon, South Korea. A South Korean entertainment agency on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, says K-pop superstar group BTS is taking an extended break to "enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Music BTS
Korean pop band BTS attends the 2019 Variety's Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2019. “Dynamite,” the group’s first all-English song, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. music charts, making BTS first Korean pop act to top the chart. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Music BTS
Members of South Korean K-Pop group BTS appear during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on April 17, 2019. (Jo Soo-jung/Newsis via AP, File)
Music BTS
South Korean pop group BTS performs during the 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert in Inglewood, Calif. on Dec. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
Music BTS
Lil Nas X, background center, performs "Old Town Road" with members of the Korean pop band BTS at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
Music BTS
Korean pop band BTS performs at the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration in New York on Dec. 31, 2019. (Photo by Ben Hider/Invision/AP, File)
Music BTS
Korean pop band BTS accepts the award for top duo group at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Music BTS
BTS performs "DNA" at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2017. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
He entered a South Korean boot camp Tuesday to start his 18-month compulsory military service.
Fierce public debate flared last year over whether the BTS K-pop superstars should be exempted from military duties. But Big Hit Music later said all seven would fulfill their obligations.
All seven members of the band — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — recently completed South Korea's mandatory military service.