BTS's "from zero to hero" story has been repeated many times over the past decade. It recalls the process of the group growing up from debuting under a small company to becoming one of the top superstars of the largest Kpop empire today.

But there is a huge misunderstanding in BTS's career story that many people may not realize. That is, BTS's beginning was not a failure or truly zero as many people mistakenly think.

In a conversation, the father of BTS - Bang Si Hyuk himself clarified this misconception of many people and pointed out the truth behind it:

Unlike other boy bands that appeared at the same time such as EXO, Shinee, etc., all of which were supported by large, leading entertainment companies, BTS debuted in the context of Big Hit Entertainment being an unknown company and on the brink. of bankruptcy. Therefore, BTS's reputation at that time was not really outstanding and many people thought that the group did not have success in the first years of their debut.

Especially when BTS becomes a global superstar, people talk more and more about the story of the group's miraculous success, incredible resilience or even "overnight fame". But in reality, most people misunderstood this process and it wasn't until it was explained by Bang Si Huyk that people realized BTS's beginnings were inherently successful.

Specifically, when appearing on tvN's famous talk show, You Quiz on the Block, Bang PD had the opportunity to talk about the first years of BTS's debut. In it, he brings up a misconception that many people often have about BTS, which is that many people believe that the group was not successful in their first year of debut. But in fact, Bang PD pointed out a part of the group's history and showed their proud beginnings.

He mentioned: "People think BTS didn’t do well initially, but they were actually successful from the beginning. I know it sounds like a good story to say that they weren’t successful in the beginning but that they returned from the U.S. having succeeded. But that’s not it at all. They received all the rookie awards in the first year and were very successful."

Indeed, when looking back at history, fans can easily realize that BTS has won many rookie awards, including Melon Music Awards 2013, MAMA Awards 2013 and Golden Disc Awards 2014... Many people have been overwhelmed by the resounding achievements and global popularity that BTS has achieved over the years, forgetting that when the group debuted, they were also promising and popular rookies.
  
However, it is easy to see why this misconception would have come about, however! Fans and media have talked about the group being unpopular during their debut era, naming true statements like the group handing out flyers for a free performance as proof.

кσяєα Times in 2021 wrote that: "Despite selling out big stadiums today, BTS didn’t always have an easy time getting people to watch them perform. In an appearance on кσяєαn reality show αмєяι¢αn Hustle Life, the members said they once had to hand out fliers along LA’s Hollywood Boulevard and invite pαѕѕers-by to come to a free concert."

But the point to note is that the flyers BTS handed out were part of a mission during their show, αмєяι¢αn Hustle Life, which took place during a time K-Pop was not as popular in the United States. The group’s Show And Prove concert αѕѕociated with this had a limited capacity, leading fans to line up overnight to see the group perform. This misconception likely was a result of the financial difficulties the company had. For smaller companies, the costs of debuting a group and maintaining them rack up debts in the millions.

Now, when the father of BTS himself talks about the group's success, people realize that world superstars have never stopped shining, even when they first debuted!