KUALA LUMPUR: Although the entertainment scene worldwide is a fickle arena that disposes of artistes as fast as it elevates them, some believe that uber popular K-Pop group BTS has the staying power due to its steely commitment.
According to Koreaboo, the seven-member music outfit has thoroughly impressed professional photographer MJ Kim, who has an international work portfolio that includes global superstars such as Madonna, Natalie Portman and Paul McCartney.
The photographer has worked with BTS on three separate occasions and notes that there is something very special to them.
In a recent video interview on a Korean entertainment channel online, Kim explained that he noticed something after working with the K-Pop outfit once every year for three years after he arrived in South Korea.
“They had such great manners the first time we met. Then they came back with the same amazing manners the second time. And the third time we met, they still had the best manners I’ve seen,” he said.
Amazed at the group’s ever-increasing humility despite its skyrocketing success over the years, Kim shared an episode with the BTS members that truly moved him.
Apparently, this happened during an extra long session where BTS had to shoot pictures and videos for 18 hours in a row due to a packed schedule that could not be avoided.
He said: “Usually, the photo shoots and video shoots are held on separate days. But these guys were packed with schedules that it had to be done on the same day. So they had to be on set for 18 hours straight.”
Kim revealed that he was surprised that the BTS boys were professional throughout the session and did not seem affected by the tiring hours they had to endure.
When it came time to say goodbye, he added that he was floored by what they had said to him.
“All the members came up to me and said, ‘Thank you for coming to work with us from morning all the way through to the evening. And thank you for smiling at us and keeping the ambiance light and fun for us’. That’s usually the staff’s goodbye to the models, you know? And they were so genuine, so sincere about it too,” said Kim in amazement.
He added that he believed that this “good-natured” vibe that every single BTS member seemed to exude would be the sole trait that keeps them together for a good while and will take them further in their career.
“I have never heard anything like that from anyone in my years of working as a photographer with celebrities both Korean and international. I realised that BTS is in it for the long run. They’re going to last a long time with that attitude,” he said.
Fans of BTS, dubbed Army, naturally were taken by the idols and expressed their appreciation online as the boys have charmed the whole industry with not only their talents but also their irresistible personalities and positive attitudes.