K-pop superstars BTS left South Korea on May 29 for the US to meet President Joe Biden at the White House for an event slated on May 31.
BTS’ RM, Jin, Suga, V, Jimin and J-Hope boarded their flight at Incheon International Airport on the morning of May 29. Jungkook left for the US on May 28.
Last May 26, the White House announced that BTS will join President Biden at the White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and celebrate the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
“On Tuesday, May 31st, global K-pop phenomenon and Grammy-nominated musical group from the Republic of Korea BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan or ‘Beyond the Scene’) will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years,” according to a press release from the White House.
The White House added,, “President Biden has previously spoken about his commitment to combating the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes and signed into law the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021 to provide law enforcement with resources to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to AA and NHPI communities.”
“President Biden and BTS will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS’ platform as youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world,” it read.
At the UN in New York City last September, BTS spoke at the second Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment of the Decade of Action meeting.