“Do More Research”: K-Pop Reporter Under Fire For Statements About BTS’s “Beyond The Story” Book

A journalist is under fire after recent comments made about BTS and Myeongseok Kang‘s biographical book Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, which was released on July 9, 2023.

| BIGHIT MUSIC

Recently, Arirang News discussed the popularity of Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS during its segment “Issues & Insiders.” K-Pop reporter Haley Yang of Korea JoongAng Daily shared her opinion on why the book had been so successful, topping New York Times bestseller list.

There’s also probably a bigger reason behind a book reaching No. 1 on the list by a Korean K-Pop band, right? Well, first of all, if you think about it, BTS’s ARMY are known for their formidable purchasing power. They buy up to 3 million copies of BTS album whenever they release one…

—  Haley Yang

Your browser does not support video.| Arirang News/YouTube

Haley Yang reasoned that Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS had been so successful because ARMYs needed something to spend money on since the group isn’t releasing albums right now as the members have begun their enlistment period.

And ever since June of last year, if you notice, their has been no album of BTS because of their official announcement of a group hiatus. So, ARMY need some place to spend their money and channel their passion into.

—  Haley Yang

Your browser does not support video.| Arirang News/YouTube

Yang compared it to K-Pop fans increasingly buying albums during the height of the pandemic as no one could attend concerts. So, she thinks that the book was bought by ARMYs out of desperation for content.

And it’s the same as how CD sales have been skyrocketing since the pandemic started and social distancing was at its peak, K-Pop fans couldn’t spend their money on concerts or meet and greets, anything in-person. So, they decided to channel a lot of their funds for supporting their stars into bulk-buying their CDs because they couldn’t spend it on anything else. And I believe that a lot of the solo projects and even this book that BTS or BTS-related stuff are being released, the fans are deciding to show their support by purchasing their usually, you know, CD money on these merchandises. This time, I think the book was a very great form of BTS’s appeal to be released in the market when the fans are really thirsty for content.

—  Haley Yang

Your browser does not support video.| Arirang News/YouTube

ARMYs were in disbelief behind this reasoning. They pointed out that there is no drought in BTS content or merchandise. If anything, the fandom is more broke than ever, with each member releasing solo projects, including albums and Suga‘s Agust D tour.

Lol btw to say “ARMYs bulk bought the Book, cos they had no CDs to spend money on”…

Lady… u serious?
Were BROKE!.. We had 6 albums to buy in 1 year! What other fandom has that ever?!
8 photofolios, all the member merchandise, DDAY Tour, singles to support….

We’re just THAT… pic.twitter.com/e7IhOuCbcV

— ⟭ BlueeDenise⁷ ᵇʸ ʲᵏ⟬ Praying for challenge (@BlueeDenise) July 31, 2023

Is she serious? BTS HASN'T RELEASED MUSIC?! LIKE INDIGO, FACE, JITB, THE ASTRONAUT, TAKE TWO, SEVEN, AND DDAY WERE JUST FIGMENTS OF OUR IMAGINATION? LADY THERE IS NO LACK OF MUSIC OR MERCH…DO YOUR FREAKING RESEARCH AND STOP WITH THE DUMBASS HOT TAKES. https://t.co/vADWNQDW8e

— ???????????????? ⁷ ⟭⟬ BTS ⟬⟭ connected to 7G since ²⁰¹³ (@lsgrlr) July 31, 2023

| Arirang News/YouTube | Arirang News/YouTube | Arirang News/YouTube

If you’re OT7, you’re already spending lots of money on all the members’ releases, so there is no desperation to purchase, especially bulk-buy a book. ARMYs have called out Haley Yang for lack of research.

| Arirang News/YouTube | Arirang News/YouTube

I need these so called journalists to stfu

1- They don't WANT to do their research
2- They are just trying to always downplay BTS achievements

This woman here need to stfu saying "army bulk bought BTS book" ARMY NEVER EVER bulk bought something,BTS being biggest band & artist+ pic.twitter.com/6bX3M7Pbti

— ikram⁷⟭⟬¹⁰SEVEN (@bts07ddaeng) July 31, 2023

Do you know how goofy one has chosen to look to talk about bulk buying while the camera pans to a lineup wrapping around the block for a book? In 2023? When you can get books online? https://t.co/yyTkwxBDtf pic.twitter.com/pvHu6lACDB

— kookadooks⁷ (@tls123_twt) July 31, 2023

Other ARMYs confessed they or fellow ARMYs they know haven’t even bought the Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS. For one thing, the fans have no reason to bulk-buy when some copies don’t come with collectible photocards.

Lady, no one is bulk buying the book. They don’t even have Photocards in the book. pic.twitter.com/NS5dHcyC9o

— Strong Power⁷ ᵇʸ ʲᵏ, Thank You! ✘ (@KakePop3) July 31, 2023

More than half my friends don’t even own the book. No one was bulk buying it. There were even ppl sharing audible accounts to listen to it.

If all of us could afford a book, THE sales would be beyond what they are. Refusing to acknowledge how large our fandom is! https://t.co/HYdn51UJQC

— LC⁷ (@BE_Happier_BTS) July 31, 2023

You can watch the entire segment below.