VOA文化艺术2022--粉丝、投资者对防弹少年团暂停表示不满

Fans, Investors¹ Unhappy over BTS Time-out

The Korean pop band BTS announced Tuesday they would take a break from group musical activities to do individual projects.

Many in South Korea reacted with surprise at the news the seven-member K-pop group presented in a video release.

"I could relate to them as they shed tears and honestly told us how they felt," fan Nini Lee told Reuters from an eatery in Seoul where she had gathered with other fans.

"Their voice gave me huge strength when I had tough times ...Now I want to give my voice of courage to them," she added.

Kim Young-sun runs the eatery. She said she felt sorry that she as a fan had only wanted more from BTS at a time when they were struggling. She wished them a well-earned break.

In the video, BTS Leader and rapper RM said he had "felt guilty and afraid" to ask for the rest that he really needed.

Singer Jimin said they were struggling to find their identity in what he called an "exhausting process." RM added that the K-pop industry could not provide young artists with "time to mature."

Jung Duk-hyun is a South Korean pop culture writer. He observed that the Korean music industry has long centered on making money. He added, "The stars cannot take a rest even when they burned themselves out."

On social media, some other fans blamed BTS' management group HYBE for pushing for new albums and other money-making opportunities. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Tuesday's unexpected announcement caused anger among investors in HYBE. Its shares dropped 25 percent on Wednesday, losing nearly $1.55 billion of its market value.

"They've planted 'dynamite²' in the hearts of shareholders," one person wrote on a Samsung Securities stock trading site. The word "dynamite" refers to a BTS hit song.

HYBE shares had performed relatively³ poorly in recent months. The company's chief executive⁴ and some BTS members sold stock totaling $7.75 million in December.

All able-bodied South Korean men are required to have about two years of military service. The oldest member of BTS, Jin, is required to begin his duty next year.

Korean legislators are still deciding on a bill pushing to provide military exemptions⁵ to world-famous artists. There is continued debate over whether BTS should have similar benefits that athletes enjoy.

Lee Ki-hoon is a financial expert at Hana Financial Investment Co. Ltd. He wrote in a report that BTS' lack of public activity could result in an income loss of about $581 million dollars in 2023.

Words in This Story

courage - n. the ability to meet danger and difficulties with firmness

exhausting - adj. making one feel very tired; very tiring

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

5 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网