BTS to Be Honored by South Korean Government for Spreading Korean Culture

On Hangul Day (Oct. 9), the holiday celebrating the creation of the Korean writing system, South Korea’s prime minister announced that chart-topping boy band BTS is going to be recognized by the country’s government.

"The government decided during a Cabinet meeting yesterday to award a Hwagan medal to the proud BTS," Lee Nak-yeon said, according to Yonhap, at a national ceremony to mark the 572nd birthday of Hangul, which was created and put into use under King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty in 1443.

According to Lee, the septet deserves the recognition as they have enhanced the Korean language's global spread through their music. "Young people around the world write down the lyrics of BTS songs in Hangul."

The seven members of BTS -- RM (Kim Namjoon), Suga (Min Yoongi), J-Hope (Jung Hoseok), Jin (Kim Seokjin), V (Kim Taehyung), Park Jimin and Jeon Jungkook -- will each be awarded a fifth-class Hwagan Order of Cultural Merit, reports the Korea Herald.

The group recently completed the North American leg of their tour with a sold-out performance at New York’s Citi Field and recently had the honor of speaking at the United Nations for the launch of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited campaign. Earlier this year, they saw their albums Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer go to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

BTS is currently in London to perform at two sold-out shows of their global Love Yourself tour at the O2 arena. Ahead of their Tuesday night show, it was announced that Jungkook had injured himself and would perform while seated.