How joining the BTS ARMY in her 40s helped journalist Hannah Sung connect to her Korean culture
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Published 2024-04-16
“I’ve always been really interested in learning about anything Korean," she says. "But being born and raised in Canada, sometimes it felt very distant. And also, I was born in the '70s, raised in the '80s and '90s. It's just not the same—so much more is accessible [now] through AI translations that are instantaneous and also Netflix and streamers. There's just such an abundance. It doesn't mean that when I look at Korean pop culture that I feel [represented]—I still have very much my own experience of being diasporic Korean. I'm probably Canadian first, right? But it's like being a kid in a candy shop.”
In this episode of Friday Talks: Not Bad For Some Immigrants, Hannah chats about BTS' appeal, but also how fandom has given her avenues to learn more about Korean culture, connected her to new friends and amplified the lessons she'd already been learning about feminism, power and aging.
ABOUT FRIDAY TALKS
Hosted by Friday Things founder and editor Stacy Lee Kong, 'Not Bad For Some Immigrants' is a six-part video series about the stories we tell about immigrants in pop culture, media and real life. It rejects the focus on striving—to succeed, to assimilate, to be judged worthy of belonging in, and to, our new homes—that so often infiltrate stories about our experiences, and instead makes space for complicated, nuanced and joyful conversations about what it actually costs to build a new life, the stories we learn to tell about ourselves and what it really means to belong.
All Comments (21)
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Nothing can go wrong once you’re part of the BTS ARMY FANDOM💜💜💜💜💜
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As a 63 year old Korean American who immigrated to the US 54 years ago I can relate to everything that Hannah talked about. From how I found BTS during Covid to losing my ability to speak and understand Korean by the time I finished college.
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52 kiwi army here. I don’t like K-pop. I love BTS. Army is a force and all over the world we are actively supporting the tannies and protecting them. What makes BTS so amazing are the men in the group. Their talent, their personalities and the respect they give Army and all people. They give us hope and share awesome messages
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I'm 45 yrs old and I'm BTS Army since 2018.. 💟
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I'm a 46yo bts army and I relate so much to ur conversation. Thank u and God bless 🙌 💜
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This was an amazing interview and guest. I am 65 yr old Army. BTS music and messages are for everyone. They help me stay young. I am 2019 era and they owned up a whole new world for me. The food, the music, the shows. The language and the culture. I find them fascinating. I have learned so much. I was missing out. I am a subscriber now. Can't wait to see more of your content!
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Thanks, ladies, for this very important discussion! I also discovered BTS in my late-40s, and I'm so glad and grateful for the experience. Within the space of a few months, my very mindset started to change. I began to grant myself more grace and forgiveness. I made tentative steps toward putting myself first and restricting the outside forces of negativity and oppression in my life (I became ARMY during the 'Love Yourself' era, so, ya know 😊 ...) Every year since then, I've grown more resolute and determined to live with greater self-purpose, and to establish appropriate boundaries. Plus, I encourage others to do likewise. It's awesome. I only wish I'd known of our Tannies sooner ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
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Omg same thing, I'm also enjoying the process. My parents don't understand why I love BTS, I didn't have any friends around that I could discuss with about BTS so I had to expand my circle but lost alot of friends. On IG I followed a BTS fan page in NYC, from there I made new Friends and I'm enjoying it. It's been 4yrs now, I wanted to who is her Bais and Wreaker 😂😂😂😂. 💜💜💜💜
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I grew up moving all over the world and because of those experiences, I was never fully comfortable living in the states. Now I'm in my 50's, an American BTS Army living in Korea and couldn't be happier!!.
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Wow the older woman meets BTS experience so mirrors my own. For some reason that's comforting! Learning about Army was also so fascinating to me. Even the indifference to "boy bands" when younger is similar. My attraction to SE Asian arts and crafts led me into the history of the area but only now over 20yrs later I am fully enjoying the K pop phenomena. I may love the artists in an older Auntie way but my admiration is massive.
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I’m Australian in my late 40’s. Became an army in 2019. Also not a k-pop fan but very much emotionally invested in anything BTS. It’s not just about their music, it’s their character, personalities, dynamics with each other. My love and loyalty for them has only grown with time 💜
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Great interview..being a BTS Army I really enjoyed and loved it..Borahe💜💜
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THIS is content I like as an ARMY.
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I’m 54 now, but I discovered BTS when I was 44-45 years old. Never really heard of kpop and kdrama since I was into Christian music since I migrated here in the USA in 2006. My sister introduced me to kdrama first coz I got sick and had surgery and was starting to feel depressed so kdrama diverted my attention away from my illness and got entertained with goblin series. BTS was mentioned in that kdrama and searched them on YouTube and got hooked with their music and with their personality instantly. Now as an ARMY almost same age as jungkooks mom, I am so proud of BTS just like a parent seeing their children succeed and fulfilled their dreams. I will 110% support BTS all the way. BTS and ARMYS will always be a part of my family.💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
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40 year old Army here.💜..from CPT - RSA..proud Army all the way...i also really learned abt them during the lockdown...i became a true Army since last year..Helping me through alot of things ..and i could relate to Min Yoongi struggles he went through the last 10 years...they just so awesome..and learned to control my anxiety...💜..very greatful.
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sooo many insightful thoughts in this one. I wonder who Hannahs bias is!!
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Gen X 5th gen Canadian here, metalhead & major music fan. BTS Army since 2017 BBMAs. I started telling anyone who would listen (and some who wouldn't) that one day BTS would be the (unlikeliest) biggest band in the world. At some point in recent years, most of them have acknowledged that I was right all along. I am Caucasian but with family members of colour (Asian and otherwise), and have seen how representation matters in a predominantly white, english-speaking culture. It is true that one is surrounded by sexism and racism daily, and you must work to see through it and to break old habits forced upon you by society at large. You have to "unlearn" a lot of things to be free. BTS has helped me to unlearn so much and helped me to be more, to be better, to pay attention.
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BTS are loved by every gen! 😋
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Yes! My best friends now are my “BTS Cincy Moms” group we made here where we live. Plus all the wonderful ARMY friends we’ve made around the world. IYKYK Borahae
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I came to this interview first as a BTS fan but as an English Language teacher the insights into the diasporic experience of language loss were invaluable. My first language is so integral to my identity and my way of thinking, it’s hard for me to imagine losing that. I can imagine as a person who ‘looks’ Korean (and is ethically Korean) that some people would find it hard to understand why you can’t speak the language fluently …and would judge you for that. Many of my students are older migrants who want to learn English so they can speak to their grandchildren, so when I am teaching younger students I encourage them to ensure their children to keep speaking in their parents’ first language as well as English. But I understand the pressure to assimilate is huge. I love learning new languages (currently learning Korean) I recommend it for everyone.
