BTS, a mega-popular Korean boy band, will visit the United Nations next week as presidential special envoys for South Korea
The group is scheduled to attend the General Assembly with South Korean President Moon Jae-in from Sept. 19 to 23, according to the Korea Herald.
“It is a huge honor, both as an individual and a citizen, to be able to hold the title of special presidential envoy for future generations and culture,” BTS member Kim Nam-joon reportedly said.
“We’re always thinking about how we could give more and return the love we have received, and we’re just thankful that the president has presented us with such a big opportunity. We will do our best as special envoys.”
Moon had appointed the singers as “special presidential envoy for future generations and culture” during a Tuesday ceremony in Seoul, where each of the band’s seven members were given diplomatic passports, the article said.
The band is reportedly expected to address the UN and participate in the second annual Sustainable Development Goals Moment, which seeks to ensure COVID-19 response efforts are “equitable, inclusive and accelerate the transition to sustainable development,” according to UN literature.
Moon told the Korean publication he is a fan of the pop sensation.
“Constantly spreading messages of support and consolation through music to youths around the world suffering from this coronavirus situation, this is not something anyone can do, and I am again grateful for such,” the leader reportedly said.
It’s not the group’s debut appearance at the Manhattan summit.
In 2019, the group reportedly launched a campaign to “get every young person into quality education, training or employment by 2030.”
Last year they appeared in a pre-recorded video urging young people to pursue their dreams despite the challenges of the pandemic, according to the article.