On Sunday, K-pop superstars BTS launched their much awaited memoir in South Korea, celebrating their tenth year together.
‘Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS’ is the septet’s first official book, and contains a chronological summary of their musical career as well as hints at their future endeavours, according to their agency BIGHIT MUSIC.
Heavy rain on Sunday morning kept most people away, but some devoted followers braved the elements to congregate in front of the Kyobo bookshop in Gwanghwamun, one of the largest in Seoul.
Sri Lankan fan Lakshi told AFP that if her excitement were measured on a “one to 10 scale, then it is about a million”.
Aqilah, a fan from Malaysia, gushed: “I came here since 9:00am and I finally got this book!”
On the strength of its pre-orders, the book, which is also being released in the United States, quickly rose to the top of the bestseller lists on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in May.
According to its American publisher Flatiron Books, it was written in collaboration with band members and South Korean writer Kang Myeong-seok.
The memoir’s release date of July 9 honors a pivotal moment in the septet’s history: it marks the day the megastars’ devoted global fan base, known as ARMY, initially emerged 10 years ago.
“(BTS) Thank you for saving me when I needed it,” said Audrey, another fan from Malaysia who scheduled a holiday in Seoul to coincide with the memoir’s release. “I wish I could say more, but I am going to cry now,” she added.
Over the course of its decade in the limelight, BTS has become a global cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums and dominating charts around the world while raking in billions for South Korea’s economy.
While two of the band members finish their necessary military service in South Korea, the band is now on “hiatus” and its members are working on solo projects.
The eldest member of BTS, Jin, enrolled last year after years of discussion about whether the group deserved an exemption from the requirement that all able-bodied men in South Korea serve at least 18 months in the military.
J-Hope, another member of the band, reportedly began his conscription in April, according to South Korean media at the time.
According to Billboard, BTS had seven solo songs that reached the top of the charts before their break and they had six No. 1 hits on the Hot 100.
