|  Source photograph by Kevin Winter / Getty The writer E. Tammy Kim recently published a piece about how BTS became arguably the most popular band in history. I caught up with Kim to talk about her journey with the group. What was your first introduction to BTS? What made you realize that this was a story you wanted to pursue? I started noticing a few years ago that K-pop fandom was being eclipsed by a more specific BTS ARMY fandom. But I sort of ignored it—thinking of myself as someone who reported on more “respectable” Korean topics—until I realized how silly that was. This is the biggest band in the world! Devoted fans describe BTS as a form of self-care and therapy; they talk about how the band “saved” them, and how they “do so much for us.” How would you describe the special allure of BTS that distinguishes them from other bands, including other Korean boy bands? There’s an intensely felt reciprocity between BTS and its fans. The members produce daily content, and shout-out and interact with fans on a very emotional level, which leads fans, in turn, to want to give back. If you had to devise a mixtape of just three BTS songs or music videos, for a novice listener, what would you pick and why? The music videos for “Black Swan,” “IDOL,” and “ON” are aesthetically thrilling and convey the band’s musical and choreographic range. Read the full interview for an inside look at what it was like to attend the band’s final performance on their “Permission to Dance” tour, and to find out Kim’s favorite member of the band. | 
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