[HEADLINE] BTS, Blackpink Become Ambassadors for Korean Cultural Heritage
[BYLINE] By Yeon Seung
Global K-pop stars BTS and Blackpink are stepping up as ambassadors to promote Korea's traditional cultural heritage to the world.
BTS will walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace through Gwanghwamun Gate for their highly anticipated comeback stage. Girl group Blackpink will introduce Korea's representative cultural artifacts in their own voices while bathing the National Museum of Korea in pink light.
According to industry sources on May 12, Blackpink will launch a large-scale collaboration project with the National Museum of Korea from May 26 to June 8 to celebrate the release of their new mini-album "DEADLINE."
Blackpink is reportedly the first K-pop act to officially collaborate with the National Museum of Korea on such a large scale. The partnership extends the group's global influence across music, fashion, and advertising into traditional Korean cultural heritage.
Blackpink members will provide audio docent commentary for eight representative artifacts at the museum. Visitors will hear explanations of Korea's most iconic museum pieces in the voices of K-pop idol stars. The museum's exterior will also be illuminated in Blackpink's signature pink color.
Starting May 26, one day before the new mini-album's release on May 27, a listening session will be held in front of the Stele of King Gwanggaeto the Great in the museum's main lobby. Fans will be able to preview the new album tracks at this location.
Large crowds are expected as fans gather at the museum to hear Blackpink's new album—their first release in three years and five months—ahead of its official drop.
BTS, returning after three years and nine months with their fifth studio album "ARIRANG," has chosen Gwanghwamun Square—often called "the heart of Korea"—for their large-scale comeback performance on March 21.
The group plans to start inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, walk through Gwanghwamun Gate and its front platform (wolde), and perform on a stage set up at the northern end of Gwanghwamun Square. Whether the opening performance along this route will be broadcast live or pre-recorded is still under discussion.
BTS previously performed "IDOL" in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall and "Mikrokosmos" at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace in 2020.
Given BTS's status as leaders of the K-pop Korean Wave, up to 260,000 people are expected to gather at Gwanghwamun Square and the surrounding downtown area.
The concert will be broadcast live to approximately 190 countries worldwide through streaming service Netflix. Global viewers will watch BTS's performance against the backdrop of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Gate in real time.
"If cultural heritage is presented through promotional materials, it can feel off-putting, but when a beloved star showcases it naturally, the effect and impact will be tremendous," said Jung Deok-hyun, a pop culture critic. "We're in an era where every move an artist makes becomes K-culture."
[DISCLAIMER] This article was automatically translated from Korean using AI. For accuracy, please refer to the original article.