K-Pop group BTS released an animated teaser to promote their fifth studio album, “Arirang.” The animation depicted Howard University, though the lack of Black people prompted controversy.
The album, released on Friday, is inspired by seven male Korean students who fled their hometown to attend Howard in 1896 in pursuit of a modern education.
Howard has a vast history of inclusivity for people of color. As an institution that formerly educated enslaved people, Howard has historically welcomed students of all backgrounds to pursue an education, including international students of color who faced racial barriers.
On Howard’s campus, the students were known for their musical talents. They recorded multiple Korean songs, their most notable being “Love Song: Ar-ra-rang,” which is considered the first documented recording of the Korean folk song and anthem, “Arirang.” This particular track inspires the album, as BTS seeks to reaffirm their Korean roots upon the group’s return after four years away during their mandatory military service.
The animated teaser begins with a brief statement regarding the inspiration behind the album. The statement recalls The Washington Post’s May 8, 1896, story about the seven students’ appearance at Howard. The statement also notes that the production does not accurately represent historical events or people.
The animation later transitions to a visual reference of Howard University. It depicts the seven Korean men on Howard’s campus before Founders Library, surrounded by students on The Yard. The scene is filled with joyous faces, though many of those faces don’t match those who make up the majority of Howard’s campus and instead are primarily comprised of white students.
Morgan Stamper is a sophomore environmental science major from Atlanta, Georgia. She was first introduced to K-Pop in 2021 by watching anime. She recalls hearing about the seven Korean men in a school paper some years ago. Stamper feels the animation wasn’t a good representation of Howard, especially given that it was the project’s plot.
“The animation gave a bit of a lackluster to Howard. I do feel that Howard being one of the only HBCUs in Washington, DC, shows a big difference to how significant Howard is,” Stamper said.
Stamper felt that the animation whitewashed Howard and didn’t accurately represent the university. She wished that they showcased the surrounding buildings, such as Douglass Hall.
“This has been a repeated thing in the K-pop industry: the lack of nuance, they wouldn’t educate themselves on different practices, whether that be dressing, hairstyles, appropriation, downright racism…” Stamper said.
Reinah McNeil, a recent Howard alumna who graduated in 2025 and studied journalism, served as the creative director of Howard’s K-pop dance team, “1OAK,” from fall of 2023 to spring of 2025. McNeil was introduced to K-pop through Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” which reminded her of Michael and Janet Jackson’s music videos.
McNeil says she has complicated feelings about the “Arirang” trailer. Though she was excited to see her HBCU represented by the band and liked that it coincided with the anniversary of 1OAK’s founding, she also said that the whitewashing of Howard was hurtful.
“I am a Black woman before I am a K-pop fan. Howard was the only institution to welcome the Korean students because of segregation, yet they failed to represent the significance of the moment,” McNeil said.
McNeil also mentions the opening statement of the video and how it didn’t fully acknowledge Howard for what it was. Though it was a brief video, considering the immense fanbase, she feels they could have done more research. She also feels that the full story wasn’t represented.
The opening text in the video does not identify Howard University by name, nor does it explain why the moment was of “profound cultural significance,” McNeil said.
“The story of the seven Korean students is one of racial solidarity and the importance of HBCUs, and I think this comeback didn’t fully capture it,” she said.
McNeil mentioned other racist acts that have occurred within the K-pop community when it comes to the appropriation of Black culture. Though acknowledging them, McNeil mentions that, unlike many other K-pop groups, BTS apologized and has made a concerted effort to understand Black American culture.
“…Many attempts at cultural “appreciation” have fallen short. Group leader RM has said the n-word while covering another K-pop song and had a curly perm to mimic afro-textured hair,” McNeil said.
Savannah Sutton, a sophomore international business major from Houston, Texas, doesn’t consider herself a K-Pop fan, though she is familiar with a couple of BTS’s mainstream songs. Sutton recalled a discussion she had in her business class where many of her peers also mentioned the history of appropriation within the K-Pop community.
“They were talking about how K-pop artists often mimic black culture, R&B specifically…but they haven’t taken any steps to pay homage to the black community,” Sutton said.
Sutton feels the topic is being exaggerated on social media under the guise that BTS had ill intent. She feels the K-pop group meant well and didn’t intend any harm, though they could’ve used more care in their approach.
“They didn’t mean to offend Howard in any sense, and I think that’s clear. The black people that they did have…they were in suits, they looked upstanding,” Sutton said.
Alexander Amen Hong, a freshman finance major from Creighton, Ohio, is Korean American and spoke about the situation on Instagram. Hong is familiar with the music genre and is an occasional listener.
Hong also believes that there was no ill intent, though he wishes that more Black people got recognition within the audience, as it takes away from what HBCUs are.
“The fact that the Black representation wasn’t anywhere near where it needed to be kind of erased the people who made the whole story possible,” Hong said.
Though Sutton doesn’t see this depiction as an attempt to erase Black culture at Howard, she does believe the history of Howard culture is being watered down and recognizes what she considers a bigger issue.
“We open up our doors to everyone else, but are those same doors going to be opened if the roles were reversed? I don’t think we see that reciprocated a lot,” Sutton said.
Sutton believes it is important to recognize Howard as an HBCU. She said they could have added more Black people, though she recognizes that Howard accepts international students and white students and has throughout history.
“The first few students that we had were white women because they didn’t have anywhere else to go to get education, because they were marginalized too,” Sutton said.
Hong also believes that the animation was more ignorant than an attempt at whitewashing. He feels that Howard was utilized more as a backdrop.
“I know it said that none of it is historically accurate, but they still could have done a better job at showcasing it,” Hong said.
Hong admires how Howard University opened its doors when no one else was willing to accept the seven students. He references how Asians were also facing discrimination regarding their ethnicity. Hong spoke to the relationship that K-Pop musicians have with Black people and their musical culture.
“They were eager to learn about how to become better musicians, and the Black community was eager to teach…Black culture has always been a big part of K-pop.” Hong said.
McNeil expanded on this and referenced the show, “American Hustle Life, ”a reality show where BTS went to LA to learn about Black American culture from Black people. Coolio and Warren G mentored them,” McNeil said.
Despite the discourse, Stamper plans to listen to the album, considering the unique story and its focus on the cultural significance of the seven students’ journey beyond what the animation showed.
“I haven’t listened to BTS in a minute since all the members went into their military…But I do have a little bit of high hopes for this one,” Stamper said.
Sutton believes that though the music group could’ve done the research, she said they had a certain amount of creative freedom since it was animated, which she feels played a part in the animated depiction of Howard’s campus.
“I think the bigger issue is not whitewashing Howard’s culture, but it’s…minorities being on the same page about…representing each other and advocating for each other,” Sutton said. “I think that’s a lost art and we’re [stronger] as one than we are apart.”
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
