BTS members are ambassadors of Seoul, but none of them are from there – now the K-pop idols’ actual hometowns have become travel hotspots for fans

Nov 13 , 2020

The BTS members are Seoul’s honorary tourism ambassadors. Photo: Seoul Metropolitan Government

J-Hope rapped about Gwangju in solo single Chicken Noodle Soup and RM mentioned Ilsan in his UN speech, while the members’ hometowns celebrate them with festivals and even official tours

Before BTS became a global phenomenon, its members used to be small town boys with big dreams. And although they are currently ambassadors of Seoul, none of them actually hail from the South Korean capital. And since their rise to fame, their respective hometowns have become tourist attractions for fans clamouring to learn more about the childhood days of their idols.

So where did each member used to call home before their big break?

RM – Ilsan

BTS leader RM’s love for his hometown, Ilsan, is well-known. Photo: @BigHitEnt/Twitter

“I was born in Ilsan, a city near Seoul, South Korea. It’s a beautiful place, with a lake, hills, and even an annual flower festival. I spent a happy childhood there, and I was just an ordinary boy.” This is how BTS leader RM introduced himself during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018.

RM’s hometown, Ilsan, is part of Goyang in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul, and RM clearly loves it. The song Ma City, which RM co-wrote, features the lyric, “Ilsan is the place I want to be buried after I die.” His section of the song also explains how he loves Ilsan Lake Park more than Seoul’s famous Han River, and considers it a place where he can go when he feels like he is losing himself.

The star’s love for his city is so well-known that the Goyang City Council even celebrated his birthday with a month-long festival featuring a fountain show at Ilsan Lake Park plus a dance flash mob set to BTS songs, and much more. RM responded to the festivities on K-pop community online platform Webis, saying, “so can I just sneak up and dance too on the day?”

Jin – Gwacheon