The Economist: Prof. Hahm, Mental Health Expert, Discusses BTS’s Social Impact on Asian Masculinity
Earlier this month, BTS–the most lucrative pop act in history–announced they would stop performing together. To give context to the social implications of the breakup, Prof. Hyeouk Chris Hahm spoke about the band’s impact on youth mental health and perceptions of masculinity, particularly in Asian and Asian American communities.
Excerpt from “What is the Legacy of BTS, the World’s Biggest Boyband?” by Dominic Ziegler, originally posted on The Economist:
ARMYs (Adorable Representative MC for Youth) feel bereft, for BTS has a different image from other K-pop acts. Their faces and clothes are as flawless as those of other idols, but a confessional streak has long been part of their shtick. They admit to frailties and insecurities—but also emphasize self-belief.
“The combination, more than anything, strengthened the bond with young fans struggling to forge an identity for themselves. In South Korea, it appealed to youngsters coping with the pressures of a hyper-competitive education system, dwindling job prospects and rigid social expectations. Many families, for example, still demand that their kids zip up their emotions. Abroad, BTS won hearts and minds by embracing causes such as Black Lives Matter, and appearing at the United Nations to call for children to be better protected from violence. They also helped shift macho norms, at least a little. With their androgynous looks and confessional approach, Hyeouk Chris Hahm, a professor at Boston University School of Social Work, says they have ‘reimagined the Asian male.’ With so much emotional capital invested, it is little wonder that their fans are mourning.”