USA18 March, 20261 min read
BTS Arirang Album Ignites Debate Over Howard University's Portrayal
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BTS Arirang teaser features Howard University, prompting backlash over alleged whitewashing and underrepresentation. The controversy centers on seven Korean students' 1896 recording at Howard.
Historic Korean Students at Howard
BTS released an animated teaser for their album Arirang. It referenced seven Korean students who studied at Howard in 1896.
They made the first known audio recordings of Korean voices in the US. Howard is a historically Black university that became an unlikely destination for international students of color.
Visual Backlash and Representation
The teaser sparked backlash over representation. Critics claimed it whitewashed Howard's campus.
Social media comments called it disrespectful and distasteful. BigHit Music described it as an attempt to introduce the cultural background of Arirang.
Historical Context and Legacy
The seven Koreans were sons of noble families who ran out of funds. Minister Suh Kwang Bum funded their journey and coordinated enrollment.
The recordings achieved an act of cultural preservation. BTS drew visual parallels between the 1896 students and themselves.