BTS exchanged views with President Joe Biden at the White House on how to respond to Asian hate crimes.
According to the White House and Big Hit Music, President Biden greeted BTS in front of the White House office on the afternoon of the 31st (local time).
When BTS said, “It’s an honor to meet the president,” Biden said, “Welcome to the White House. Hurry up and come up,” he greeted them with a gesture.
This is the first time a Korean artist has visited the White House to meet an incumbent U.S. president.
The two sides moved to the Oval Office, the Oval Office, where they exchanged pleasantries. The meeting lasted 35 minutes and was held behind closed doors.
The meeting took place on the last day of the U.S. “Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islands Residents (AANHPI) Heritage Month,” when President Biden invited BTS.
President Biden, who sat face to face with BTS members, said, “This month is an important month for the United States,” adding, “Many Asian-American friends are suffering from real discrimination.”
“Hate hides when good people talk about hate. Hate goes down when you say how bad it is. So I’m grateful to all of you.”
RM, a member of BTS, said, “I sincerely thank the president for signing the COVID-19 Hate Crime Act and making it into a law,” adding, “We just want to be of any help, and I sincerely thank the White House and the U.S. government for trying to find a solution.”
Then President Biden said, “People pay a lot of attention to what you say,” adding, “What you do is good for everyone. Not only your great talents, but also your communication messages are important,” he stressed.
Biden and BTS members stood side by side at the Oval Office, making Korean finger hearts and taking pictures together.
On the same day, President Biden presented BTS with a presidential coin.
After the meeting, President Biden released a separate one-minute video on Twitter showing his meeting with BTS.
On Twitter, he said, “It was nice to meet BTS. Thank you for your efforts to raise awareness of the growing number of hate crimes against Asian people and discrimination,” he said.
He then said, “I hope to share more of our conversations soon,” expressing his intention to disclose additional conversations.