Rhetorical Criticism of BTS' Speeches at the United Nations in Terms of Ideological Criticism

Maleki, Mustafa; Beiranvand, Nasrin; Alizadeh, Habibullah

Rhetorical Criticism of BTS' Speeches at the United Nations in Terms of Ideological Criticism

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mustafa Maleki ¹

Nasrin Beiranvand ²

Habibullah Alizadeh ³

¹ Faculty member of the Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

² PhD student in Political Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran

³ Master of Social Communications (Journalism), Social Communications Department, Payam Noor Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

In recent decades, Korean pop music (K-POP) has evolved not only into an entertainment industry but also into a tool of soft power and cultural diplomacy. BTS, as one of the most prominent groups in this genre, plays a key role in promoting the values, cultural identity, and ideology of the South Korean government. As one of the most famous music groups in the world, BTS is recognized not only for their music but also for their social and humanitarian messages. Their invitation to the United Nations and their speeches at the UN suggest that they pursue goals that go beyond mere cultural objectives, following certain ideologies. This study aims to analyze BTS's speeches at the United Nations in 2018 and 2021 using rhetorical criticism from an ideological perspective to uncover their hidden functions and ideologies. The findings of the analysis indicate that through cohesive teamwork and cultural activities, the group has expanded its global influence, while UN leaders leverage their cultural power to establish cultural hegemony, particularly targeting the youth of the global community.

Keywords

K-pop

BTS

criticism

rhetoric

ideology