| Asia Pacific Journal of Language, Culture, and Education Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 37-39 |
| Abbreviation: APJLCE |
| ISSN: 3092-362X |
| Publication date: 30 June 2026 |
| Received: 30 May 2026 / Received in Revised Form: 15 June 2026 / Accepted: 22 June 2026 |
| DOI: https://doi.org/10.23403/apjlce.2026.1.1.37
|
Book Review: BTS and Languages
|
| Taeguk Kim (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies), SOUTH KOREA |
| Copyright 2026 APJLCE This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Abstract |
| BTS and Languages: K-Pop Transcending Language and Communication examines BTS as a sociolinguistic and multimodal case through which K-pop reshapes language, identity, and global communication. Across its three parts, the book analyzes BTS’s lyrics, multilingual practices, and media engagement, showing how Korean dialects, inclusive pronouns, lexical bundles, and systemic-functional patterns build intimacy and empowerment with fans. It also explores how BTS and ARMY use English as a lingua franca, translanguaging, fandom neologisms, emojis, Korean expressions, and digital platforms to create shared identities across linguistic and national boundaries. Further chapters examine reaction videos, fan chants, linguistic landscapes, and advertisements to show how BTS-related communication challenges English-centered hierarchies and expands Korean’s symbolic presence in global media. The book offers an interdisciplinary contribution to sociolinguistics, fandom studies, media studies, and cultural studies. |
Keywords |
| BTS, Translanguaging, English as a Lingua Franca, Fandom Communication, Multilingual Identity |
References |
| Suh, J., & Park, E. (2025). BTS and Languages: K-pop Transcending Language and Communication. Routledge. |
The Author |
| Taeguk Kim is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Foreign Language Education, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea. His research focuses on corpus linguistics, pedagogical corpus compilation, data-driven learning (DDL), and AI-assisted teaching and learning. |
The Author’s Address |
| First and Corresponding Author Taeguk Kim Visiting Research Fellow Institute of Foreign Language Education Hankuk University of Foreign Studies 107 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02450, SOUTH KOREA E-mail: consumption@hanmail.net |
