K-Pop Band BTS Visits the White House to Discuss Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

K-pop boy band BTS at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2019. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

South Korean K-pop boyband BTS spoke out about anti-Asian hate crimes and Asian inclusion in their first visit to the White House on May 31, saying that the escalation of hate crimes in the United States was devastating.

“We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian-American hate crimes. To put a stop on this and support the cause, we’d like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again,” band member Jimin said at a press briefing.

The seven-member supergroup did not take questions from the press.

The group met with President Joe Biden after the press briefing and discussed Asian inclusion and representation, as well as addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination.

“While many of you may know BTS as Grammy-nominated international icons, they also play an important role as youth ambassadors, promoting a message of respect and positivity,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

BTS’ meeting coincided with the Asian-America, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May. Anti-Asian hate crimes have escalated since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, which anti-discrimination activists linked to the pandemic’s emergence from China.

Hate crimes against Asian-Americans rose by 149 percent in 2020 in 16 major cities compared with 2019, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism in March 2021.

Eight people, including six Asian women, were killed in a shooting spree at Atlanta-area spas on March 16, 2021.

Biden signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021, enabling the reporting of hate crimes to be more accessible and ensuring that reporting resources are available online in multiple languages.

Activists and celebrities have used social media to advocate for an end to anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, including BTS, who had previously shared their own experiences with racial discrimination in the United States.

“We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English. We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason,” they said in a statement published on Twitter.

“Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem,” they added.

BTS is known for using their lyrics and social campaigns aimed at empowering youths since making their debut in 2013. Their fan base extends into older demographics, tying their spending clout to an internet-savvy generation that harnesses the power of social media.

Reuters contributed to this report.