I did not discover K-pop on my own. My friend did.
She was always playing Korean songs in the house, and I used to wonder what exactly she found so interesting about music sung in a language she did not understand. I already loved K-dramas, so Korean soundtracks were not new to me, but I had never paid attention to the fact that many of those songs were actually K-pop.
Then came 2020. COVID. Lockdown. Too much time on YouTube.
While randomly watching YouTube videos one afternoon, I came across a speech delivered by BTS leader Kim Namjoon (RM) at the United Nations in 2018. He spoke about self-love, self-acceptance, and learning to speak for oneself. I was struck by how deeply his words resonated with me. It felt personal.
Growing up, I worried a lot about what people thought of me. I tried to please everyone and avoided criticism. Listening to that speech made me pause and reflect. That was the day I promised myself to focus on becoming a better version of me.
One quote by RM that I still hold close to my heart was his 2018 UNICEF Speech:
“Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults and mistakes. Tomorrow, I might be a tiny bit wiser and that would be me too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I am, for who I was, and for who I hope to become…Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself. Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself. I’m Kim Nam Jun, RM of BTS. I’m a hip-hop idol and an artist from a small town in Korea. Like most people, I made many mistakes in my life. I have many faults, and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little. What is your name? Speak Yourself”.
Curious about the group, I downloaded songs from their Love Yourself: Tear album. One song stood out, which was “The Truth Untold.” It was calm, emotional, and evocatively beautiful. I searched for the English translation of the lyrics and loved the song even more. It felt like it understood what I was going through at that point in my life.
That was how I became BTS ARMY.
As I listened to more of their music, I realized something surprising: language was not a barrier to feeling music. Even without understanding every word, I could feel the emotions. Their songs spoke about loneliness, mental health, self-love, and youth struggles in ways I had never experienced before.
Soon, I found myself watching Run BTS and their other content via their YouTube Channel, learning about the members, their struggles before fame, and their connection with their fans known as ARMY. I began following them on all their social media platforms to keep myself informed of their activities and also to know when they release new music or content. My interest slowly grew from BTS into the wider K-pop world. I began exploring other groups and solo artists like IU, EXO, Seventeen, Stray Kids, TXT, BlackPink, NewJeans, and many others.
Then something interesting happened.
Whenever I went back to watch K-dramas, I started recognizing K-pop voices in the soundtracks. Songs I had loved for years, like “Stand by Me” in Boys Over Flowers and “Closer” in To the Beautiful You, were actually K-pop songs. I remembered crying while listening to Taeyeon’s voice without knowing who she was. Recently, I discovered that “Sweet Night” from Itaewon Class was sung by V from BTS.
K-pop suddenly felt familiar in a way I had never noticed before.
What fascinates me about K-pop is the dedication behind it, the years of training, the teamwork within groups, the storytelling in the music, the choreography, and the connection with fans. It is very different from what I was used to in the Nigerian music industry.
Today, K-pop is a big part of my playlist. It has introduced me to new friends, new communities, and a new way of experiencing music. What started as curiosity about my friend’s taste in music turned into a journey of personal growth, emotional healing, and global connection. I am now a committed and dedicated fan, that is now part of several K-pop communities both online and offline.
And it all started with a UN speech and a song I did not understand.