Bangtan Boys Promote New Album on YouTube

BTS speak at a launch event for their new album in Seoul on Monday. /Newsis

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A launch event for Bangtan Boys' new album was livestreamed on YouTube on Monday.

The band, a day earlier decided to hold the event without their fans or reporters amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, and do it online instead. And the livestream drew over 220,000 viewers.

"We are just ordinary people, but we're grateful that we have been so lucky", said band leader RM.  

They said there was more to life than being members of BTS and they felt pressed to break their own records. "While on tour, all we see are airports, hotels and concert halls. I feel like I am a hero during a concert but as soon as I get in a car, I feel alone", band member V said.

But RM said the latest album "Map of the Soul: 7" was the result of their hard work. Asked about what's behind their global popularity, RM said, "I think artists who reflect the contemporary time they live in tend to be loved the most".

"Our individual stories [as conveyed in our songs] luckily brought attention from many people around the world", he added.

Meanwhile, the album is on course to debut atop the Billboard 200 to be tallied next week, becoming the band's fourth album to be on the chart. The album, "which was released Feb. 21... could earn 300,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 27, with most of that sum driven by album sales", Billboard said on its website Monday.