US State Department Thanks BTS for "Supporting Positive South Korea-US Relations"... Publicly Backing Against China

Morgan Ortagus, U.S. State Department Spokesperson
Congratulations on Receiving the Van Fleet Award for BTS's Contribution to the Development of Korea-U.S. Relations

▲Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, expressed gratitude to BTS through Twitter. (Source=Twitter capture)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The U.S. Department of State expressed gratitude to BTS for their efforts in supporting positive South Korea-U.S. relations, following backlash from Chinese netizens over BTS’s mention of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

On the 14th (local time), Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, tagged BTS’s official Twitter account and wrote this message.

She added, "You are fully deserving of the Korea Society’s 'Van Fleet Award,'" and said, "Music unites the world."

Earlier, on the 7th, BTS received the Van Fleet Award from the nonprofit Korea Society in recognition of their contributions to the development of South Korea-U.S. relations, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.

The U.S. Department of State’s public support for BTS, whose remarks during the award acceptance speech sparked controversy among Chinese netizens, is interpreted as a deliberate message aimed at China.

The U.S. and China have been engaged in an all-out new Cold War over the responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Chinese netizens expressed anger over BTS’s mention of "the history of hardships both countries (South Korea and the U.S.) endured together" in their acceptance speech, causing controversy.

Chinese state media Global Times reported, "BTS, without fully understanding the history of 'Resisting America and Aiding Korea' (the Chinese intervention against the U.S. in the Korean War), is disrespecting the Chinese soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war and insulting China."

In response, as criticism arose in South Korea labeling the reaction as 'excessive' and anti-China sentiment grew, Global Times followed up by reporting on related coverage from Korean media.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.