For those countries that experience four seasons in a year, spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter are very familiar occurrences. With that in mind, Borasaek Vision introduced the first of our seasonal series in June of this year, starting with summer. Recently, we completed that “Summer Series” with a total of seven blogs dedicated to BTS and art, with a particular focus on James Jean’s BTS-inspired “Seven Phases” exhibition in Seoul. As we segue to our “Fall Series,” we see fall as a time of transitioning from one season to another, and a time for harvesting the bounty of summer and celebrating the richness of those harvests. This brings us to the theme of our “Fall Series” — a time of celebration. So for the next three months, seven blogs will be dedicated to various special occasions celebrated around the world. We hope you’ll enjoy reading these as much as we enjoy writing them.
Children's Day
When BTS’ leader RM helped to write V’s solo song “Inner Child,” many of the precious memories that he and V shared in their earlier days as BTS, including his own memories of V as a mischievous, unpredictable, and fun teenager, were also imbued into his lyrics. Those precious memories that represent an important part of who they were as young boys have contributed to who they are now as young men and, to an extent, will keep informing us of who they hope to become in the future. They also serve as a constant reminder for V, as he reassures his younger self with these translated lyrics, “it’s going to be okay because the me of today is okay.”
Protecting children and youth so that they too have the opportunity to create their own precious memories, free from violence, pain, and suffering, is a long-standing commitment of BTS. We have seen this firsthand through their ongoing UNICEF partnership aimed at ending violence and neglect against children, as well as promoting self-esteem and well-being. The members too are known for their many charitable works in supporting numerous child/youth-related projects or foundations in the areas of health, education, and the arts. When it comes to advocating for the rights of children and youth, BTS openly acknowledge this as one of their priorities as idols.
This is a sentiment also shared by many citizens in South Korea, with two days specifically dedicated to celebrating its nation’s children and youth. The first of these is Children’s Day, which was established in 1923 by children’s rights activist Bang Jeong-hwan and officially designated as such by the South Korean government under the 1961 children’s welfare law. Finally, in 1970, Children’s Day was declared as an official national holiday for South Korea’s citizens, to be celebrated annually on May 5. Children’s Day was premised upon Bang’s belief that “economic difficulties of life can affect children and corrupt their innocence.” Bang, therefore, chose to create children’s literature that instilled hope and courage in its young readers. At the same time, he worked tirelessly to remove historical perceptions that children were merely workers by instead promoting the belief that they are the nation’s youngest citizens whose growth and development deserve to be nurtured and protected.
While Children’s Day is not unique to South Korea, having gained national holiday status, it is now recognized as an event of great significance. Over the years though, some say that the celebration has become more commercialized, placing undue pressure on families, especially those that don’t fit the 2-parent mold. Globally, however, Children’s Day continues to hold a lot of meaning with the key messages reminding us that children are indeed the future.
National Youth Day
The next occasion that we’d like to acknowledge in this series is National Youth Day, an event that is celebrated in several countries in the world, including China, the USA, and India. In 1999, August 12 was designated by the United Nations as the day for celebrating International Youth, and since then this event has been promoted globally as a time for raising awareness of the many societal issues that impact youth in these modern times.
2020 was an unprecedented year for many, including President Moon Jae-in, who, amidst the chaos of a global pandemic, hosted its inaugural National Youth Day in honor of the nation’s youth. This day was made possible after the South Korean government established a law advocating the rights and responsibilities of youth aged 19–34 under the “Framework Act on Young Adults.” As such, it was announced that every year on the third Saturday of September, South Korea will celebrate National Youth Day.
National Youth Day was hosted at Nokjiwan, a flourishing garden within the official grounds of Cheongwadae (aka the Blue House), residence to the South Korean leader, President Moon Jae-in. In attendance were many invited guests; however, it was the presence of BTS that naturally captured the hearts and minds of ARMYs throughout the world. Each of the members shared their own insights of how they have navigated their way through life. While BTS hoped that their words and experiences might inspire the youth of South Korea, their messages of hope, strength, and resilience are applicable to youth all over the world.
A Time For All Seasons
Celebrating life’s special occasions, especially within today’s current climate, is an opportunity to bookmark specific events in one’s life, either as individuals or as a community. So, over the next three months of this “Fall Series,” Borasaek Vision will take this opportunity to celebrate, to remember, and to document a small selection of occasions that have meaning and relevance, not only within South Korea but also in other pockets of the world.
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Written By: Shelley
Edited By: Esma
Checked By: Vera
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