BTS: ‘K-Wave’ arrives at White House with anti-Asian hate summit
韓國偶像團體防彈少年團BTS 5月31日前往美國白宮與總統拜登（Joe Biden）會面，討論仇恨亞裔犯罪和種族歧視問題。
BTS at the White House on 31 May
他們是世界上最紅火的天團，他們把「K-Wave」帶到了白宮。
但BTS並沒有向喬·拜登總統展示他們的爆炸舞步，而是討論了仇恨亞裔犯罪和種族歧視問題。
They are the world’s best-selling artists, and they have brought the “K-Wave” to the White House.
But BTS were not there to show President Joe Biden their “dynamite” moves. Rather, it was to discuss anti-Asian hate.
在Covid-19大流行期間，針對東亞人的犯罪在美國急劇上升。這些20多歲的男孩天團成員發誓要幫助79歲的拜登解決這個問題。
Crimes targeting East Asians have risen dramatically in the US amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The boy band members – all in their 20s – vowed to help Mr Biden, 79, tackle the issue.
BTS會晤拜登之前，在白宮新聞簡報室與白宮新聞秘書皮埃爾（Karine Jean-Pierre）一起參加每日新聞發布會，就仇恨亞裔犯罪發表立場。
皮埃爾在新聞發布會上率先指出：「雖然你們當中許多人可能知道 BTS是獲得格林美提名的國際偶像，但他們也扮演著青年大使的重要角色，宣傳尊重和積極的資訊。」
韓國偶像團體防彈少年團BTS到白宮與美國總統拜登會面前，在白宮新聞簡報室就仇恨亞裔犯罪發表立場。 （AP）
BTS通過翻譯表示，最近發生多宗仇恨亞裔犯罪令人驚訝和難過，為了制止這情況，希望借此機會表達意見。
隊長RM用英文說，感謝拜登總統和白宮給予BTS討論重要問題、深思作為藝人能有何作為的機會。 每一位成員都有在講臺上發言，但他們沒有回答任何提問便離開簡報室。
他們隨後在橢圓形辦公室與拜登的會面沒有對外開放。
BTS成員在發言
”It’s not wrong to be different,” BTS member Suga said through an interpreter. “Maybe equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences”.
Another member, V, said that “everyone has their own history”. “We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and every one as a valuable person,” he added.
Dressed in matching black suits, the seven members group did not take questions from reporters before leaving the White House briefing room to head to their meeting with President Biden.
BTS at the White House on 31 May
The group have been outspoken about their experiences with anti-Asian hate.
Following a series of massage parlours shootings targeting Asian women in Georgia last year, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook spoke out about their own experiences with anti-Asian discrimination.
They’ve “endured expletives without reason” and have been mocked for their appearance, they said. “We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason”.
In February, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – a music industry body – announced that the group beat the likes of Taylor Swift, Drake and Adele to become the world’s best-selling artists for a second year running.
”We still feel surprised that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world, transcending languages and cultural barriers,” Jungkook said at the White House. He added that the group believes that “music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things”.
BBC News, Washington
>雙語｜韓國防彈少年BTS幫助79歲拜登解決仇恨亞裔犯罪問題