Why the appeals of BTS and its archenemy were great - they had stories, while other Company Acts did not

The story of most Kpop acts is simple . Trainee - debut - promotion.

Even BlackPink and aespa do not have such stories.

The rise of BlackPink was kinda guaranteed since it built from the foundation YG and Teddy had established - there was no story.

Same to aespa and virtually all idols debuting now.

BTS had a great story to tell. It began with basically nothing, performing elsewhere.

BTS Fan sign in front of Shinnara Records, 2013, a clip signifying their nugu days.

BTS in Moscow, 2014. Russia was not preferred as a destination for KPop acts to go to since its concerts are not paid properly to the companies, having too many middlemen ,and as a nugu act it went along with some other acts whose names nobody bothered to record. Ironically, for the people of Russia, this would be the only performance of BTS it would ever have.

at that time it compared to acts like B.A.P, or Boys Republic, acts which are little remembered now.

From performing in a makeshift stage at Moscow, they moved to the UN headquarters in 2022. What happened after them is simply laughable, but that is another story.

Meanwhile, the story of BTS' archenemy seems to be even more dramatic.

There has been a bunch of movies and shows about Napoleon. I don't think anyone bothered to make a show about Wellington. BBC might have made one long time ago but that would be about it - even the English know that Wellington is a boring subject, and fictional shows like Sharpe or Hornblower series were more popular.

KPop is unique that its archenemy has a story which is arguably more interesting that BTS's.

BTS' archenemy performing in a racetrack, circa 2009

Incredibly this clip survived for the posterity.

KPop's archenemy went on to fight SNSD, EXO and BTS.

She became the only singer in the entire world who refused to recognize BTS' superiority since she knew them from the nugu days

And, unfortunately, even when BTS became big and eventually conquered the entire world, for her they were still nugus.

It is unfortunate KBS arranged this interview, since it gave her a superiority complex over them which led her to be able to remain as the last standing of the opposition against BTS.

She became the only domestic singer in history to have a world tour, and had the largest concerts in Korea in 2020s. Plus she had no shortage of scandals and controversies, making her tale quite a bit spicier.

BlackPink, aespa, etc did not have such narratives. IZOne was close but since it was from cheating, its narrative had less legitimacy. GFriend had some narratives but BTS' story was bigger.

Qwer now has some stories but it is already fading.

Will KPop acts ever have such stories to tell in the future? Maybe, but not likely in my opinion. NJZ' story is too tied with the fates of MHJ to become a popular lore.

Quote from tetetete

I think u should have added something about tae and iu

Maybe there's a spicier story there

That is long after they became big so not part of the discussion

Quote from draggehz

except for RM they were really cute in their earlier days

and the music was really fun

the choreo was so good too

Some people still prefer the old, 'raw' BTS but to become a global act they had to transform

Quote from lia09

We're never having another BTS again, even bighit isn't same as it used to be.

BigHit has become completely corporate and BTS is a stranger in BigHit as well. The new act which will debut in Aug barely knows it.

BTS was built by Bang, PDogg, RM and Suga. the new acts won't have PDogg, RM and Suga.

Quote from Epyon-556

Twice, members like Momo, Tzuyu and Dahyun in particular hit the ground running with an underdog narrative after what JYP put them through in Sixteen, though like IZ*ONE it was manufactured.

The graduation concept did similar for NCT Dream.

Some members, not all.

Tzuyu had a story but cancelled by the Huang An shit. She has never really recovered from it.

Plus at that time the GFriend story was stronger. Crucially, Sana, which got the most attention in Cheer Up, had no story to tell. So the Twice story was kinda buried.

Quote from Bottles

Omg you’re British!?!?

I just watch such shows sometimes, that's all.

Quote from nevermindmejin

This is one history lesson from you that I agree with.. I love IU’s and BTS’ rags to riches stories.. A testament to their hardwork and talents.

For many ARMYs, we always accept IU’s greatness, she is THAT iconic. Seniority and experience-wise, BTS is nugu compared to IU and thats ok.

Such stories are unlikely to be repeated because KPop has become completely corporate.

Quote from Yumeku

I didn’t read the entire thread but I got the gist of it and I agree. It’s not that they were the only underdogs but their fans executed selling that image well. Now other groups’ fans try to do the same for their favs but it doesn’t feel original anymore.

The next big thing needs to have a unique story other than being from a small company.

In the past SNSD too gained tremendous fan support after the original “black ocean”. Gee was their first viral song and it increased their popularity but the group gained loyal fans through their story.

All these artists need is one hit song and their already established unique story attract new fans.

Ps we can argue that aespa canonically being targeted by Bang pd is their unique situation/story.

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Since all narratives known to humans and (I have to add this now) AI have been explored, traditional methods do not work . aespa being targeted bu Bang narrative lasted probably for one year but as NjZ' stars are dimming, this narrative weakens as well.

Quote from lia09

Not you giving more credit to Bang Si hyuk and Pdogg than BTS members in a big year of 2025 . I'm so much offended right now 🥹

What I am saying is that the Big Hit acts will not have the influence of Pdogg, who has moved on to do his own stuff, and the two more BTS members prominent in the earlier stages who see no reason to help their competition.