Hi dear r/bangtan! Happy Friday!
I’m Lenika Cruz, a senior editor at The Atlantic who has written a bunch about BTS—many of my articles were collected and expanded on for my lil book [On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity](https://zandoprojects.com/books/on-bts/). Not included in the book (for publishing timeline reasons) are my interviews with [Jungkook](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/11/bts-jungkook-solo-album-golden/675879/) and [RM](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/12/rm-bts-indigo-album/672307/) (over Zoom), and my essay on [Yoongi’s Agust D/D-Day tour](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/05/suga-bts-solo-tour-concert/674118/).
I’m delighted to do this AMA, especially since it’s been almost 5 years since I originally discovered BTS and joined this subreddit. This space was a godsend and haven for me in those early whirlwind days. One of my favorite stories to tell people: I met one of my dearest friends on here when we were both baby ARMYs—we ended up connecting offline, bought our MOTS tour tickets (RIP), eventually went to PTD LA together, and last year I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. A true r/bangtan love story!
Other things about me: I’m currently [working on a coming-of-age memoir](https://twitter.com/lenikacruz/status/1655572341106130952) about my home island of Guam (håfa adai!) and my indigenous Chamoru heritage. I’ve written a couple more personal essays that you can read, including [I Didn’t Know My Mother Was Dying. Then She Was Gone.](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/10/children-grief/620295/) and [His Mother’s Life Was a Mystery He Needed to Solve](https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/10/children-grief/620295/). I’ve been away from Twitter/X for a while and am a bit more active on Instagram these days (handle: lalalenika).
Feel free to ask me about all things BTS, music, culture, journalism, literature, writing, my BT21 collection, Guam—I’ll answer what I can for the next few hours.
Thank you for having me here and let’s have a good time! Borahae!
Proof: [https://twitter.com/lenikacruz/status/1761073662373847433](https://twitter.com/lenikacruz/status/1761073662373847433)
by itslenika
![[WTS] [US] Misc albums, pcs, dvds, bt21, other](https://www.btshubs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/qJQOiG9ycTkehU9YsMNru_DVrX5RFOod-tIH6D5sGF0-600x600.jpg)
Here’s my question for Lenika: You are one of the few writers in a large publication who takes BTS seriously as artists and who looks at them through the lens of cultural impact.
Why do you think this is? And if I’m wrong and there are other writers doing serious media criticism on BTS, please let me know!
-your follower Namjoonbug1138
What do you think 2025 will look like?
Hi Lenika and thank you so much for doing this! What’s your “1 min elevator pitch” to people who don’t know about BTS or don’t take them seriously when they find out you write about them for The Atlantic?
Hi Lenika! I made my library get a copy of your book and immediately rented it; I enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks for your reporting!
My question for you: how has your relationship within ARMY and observing from without ARMY changed in those 5 years? Do you find yourself still able to dive into the fandom or are you worried you’ve got to be more “critical” all the time? (I find the intersection of fandom and serious reporting rarely discussed!)
Wondering what your relationship is with the Korean language? I am an English and French speaker and now a Korean language learner and find the beauty and complexity of the language such an important part of my Bangtan experience. Do you feel it’s important to understand the language vs. just look at translations? What is your experience about it? Thanks
Hi! Loved your articles/book! BTS has dropped hints that they will be revisiting their album from 9 years ago for their anniversary… Yoongi wrote most of that album (happiest moment in life). Do you think he would be working on that now? How do you think this hiatus will shape their comeback? Also, how is your new book coming?:) thank you!
Hi Lenika! I am a fan of your writing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book this month.
– My first question was about Reddit and I see you’ve already written a bit about being here. Welcome back, in the form of an AMA. Does this feel a bit surreal? Are you still lowkey on this subreddit sometimes? What was it about Reddit vs Twitter or other socials that you liked in terms of meeting the fandom?
– You touched on something really vulnerable while talking about your first BTS concert and your personal struggles with agoraphobia. I felt so proud of you and I’m glad you gave yourself that wonderful experience. Can you tell us more about what were the driving forces or thoughts in your head when you decided to go, while you were still grappling with being a fan and were unsure of what it might be?!
– Okay so what’s been your Chapter 2 faves? I keep this list handy and revisit it for myself because BTS’ music can be a slow burn for me. Feel free to answer whatever you can think of right off the bat because these are like rapid fire Qs: Name your favorite: Single/title track? Album? B-side track? Music video? Live performance? Lyric? Album art? Collaboration? Variety content? Tiktok/reel/short form content?
Thanks for doing this again! Have a great weekend!
Hi Lenika!
So excited you’re here. I’m a journalist and ARMY trying to pitch stories about the role that fandom plays in bringing women together — as well as the pushback we sometimes receive from the non-fans in our life. (As an Iranian American, focusing on I-fans.)
I was actually hoping to pitch you before I knew you were on break, but would you have any suggestions as to what outlets might be interested in these kinds of stories (or if there’s an editor filling your shoes at The Atlantic who might be interested)?
Edit: I have to bow out for an interview (the job calls!) at 2PM EST, but thanks in advance for any answer you give, and thanks for your amazing work!
Hey Lenika!! So happy to have you here. I finally got a chance to read On BTS this week and loved it. I’ve enjoyed your articles in the past and got to read a few I hadn’t before. I related so much to your first article about the guys. It felt so much like my discovery of BTS and going down that rabbit hole.
Since I’m fresh off of reading your book, thanks to our sub’s book club and all of our picks are related to BTS in some way (so many Namjoon recs). What book would you recommend to Namjoon?
Also, is there any book you’ve read over the last year that you loved and just want to recommend to everyone?
Edit: I just wanted to add a thank you for writing so respectfully about the guys. You’re a fellow fan, so you get it but it’s such a breath of fresh air when you can tell that the journalist cares enough to do research on the guys.
Edit 2: I’m sorry adding another edit to this. After reading your book, I’d love a your in-depth thoughts on Chapter 2 once all they guys are back. I know as a fandom, we all were so shocked after FESTA 2022 and none of us could have expected what all happened over the last year and a half.
Do you also buy merch (fan made/official, PCs, albums etc)? If yes, what was the last piece of merch you purchased and do you also have a BTS altar/shelf/drawer?
Do you find that BTS has somehow also influenced some of your purchases? (Like a supply of ramen or Teazen Kombucha, maybe a clothing brand they like using or chelsea boots)
Hi Lenika, thank you for doing this AMA. I have been trying to learn more about Korean culture & context, so that I can even better appreciate BTS’ & members’ lyrics. In addition to reading on Korean history, I’ve been following current events in Korea by reading news sites like Korea JoongAng Daily, Korea Times, Korea Herald. I have found this quite interesting but no idea the reputation of these sites. As a professional journalist, do you have any perspective on them and/or best approach to keep up on Korean news & current events? Thank you.
Who is your bias? 😎
Hello, Lenika! Thank you so much for being here and for the way you write about BTS and about ARMY. Your pieces have made me feel seen and understood as a fan. That feeling is so priceless in a landscape of media who often tries to belittle fans of “boy bands” in general, and BTS, in particular.
Since we have such great questions about BTS and your writing already, my question is for the Anything portion of the AMA. Laundry…what’s your go to, hot water or cold? Liquid or pods? Love it like JK or loathe it like me?
Hi Lenika!
Thank you for coming for an AMA.
Firstly, what is your all-time favorite BTS song & album?
Secondly, I love to use [google.com/news](https://google.com/news) to search for articles surrounding BTS or kpop at a broader level. You have always written in-depth nuanced pieces about BTS/the industry, but I cannot say this is always guaranteed with US music journalist.
Do you feel like the needle has substantially moved on how music journalism seeks to discuss BTS/the kpop industry, and should we expect continued improvement OR is there a chance that coverage decreases?
Additionally, are there other good ways to keep track of new articles outside of google.com/news?
Hi Lenika, thank you for coming and welcome back! I’m based in the DMV, and even though I grew up here I don’t get out much. Thanks to my bias, RM, I’ve been doing more and more Namjooning in cities I visit. I’m wondering what your favorite BTS adjacent/Namjooning places are or just overall favorite food spots.
Hey Lenika!
If you could choose one, just one, music video to show to someone who hasn’t heard of BTS before, which one would you choose?
And if you could choose one, just one, random video (but not music related) content of BTS what would it be?
I really enjoyed reading your interview with Jungkook! You noted that it was a video call and that he wore a black zip-up, hood pulled over his head…. Which made me think, what do journalists wear for these video interviews? Are you also casually dressed like the artist or do you have to look more business-like? What did you decide to wear and how did you reach that decision
Hi again! I’m realizing my question sort of dovetails another question about their return after hiatus. Here is something I have been thinking about recently, and wondered if you had any thoughts on it as well… I think I reflected on it after reading the piece in the LA Times after The D-Day tour. Sometimes I see Yoongi as “new-facing Korea,” and RM as “traditional Korea.” Both are proud of their heritage but Yoongi always emphasizes younger interviewees on his show to be comfortable with him, not worry about turning their head when they cheer, etc.. He has also brought to the forefront a lot of taboos in his music and on tour, encouraging fans to let loose a bit. RM seems to be embracing more of a formal, traditional Korea in his comments praising the kpop system and in his pursuits in art, etc.. This is in no way a critique on either, just my observations. Any thoughts on this and how it could impact possibly their path going forward? Thanks again!
So excited that you’re doing this AMA! I know you’re a Yoonmin bias, but which member do you think you are most alike/different from, and why?
Hi Lenika!
Thank you so much for being here.
Everyone has asked such wonderful questions, I can’t really think of what to add! I appreciate your approach in your writings and interviews with BTS & ARMY so very much.
As I’m eating a bag of jellybeans 😆 I guess I do have a question: What is your favorite snack?
Hi Lenika! Have you ever decorated your ARMY bomb? If you did, what does it look like!
Hi Lenika! Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your book. Your essays were obviously thoroughly thought through and well written. As a relatively newer Army, your articles were really reassuring as it touched on many sentiments I had found myself going through. So thank you for that.
Having said that, now that we’re near the end of the break, what do you think would be some questions you might have for the tannies the next you have an opportunity to interview them?
Looking forward to reading your next piece!
Hi Lenika! I used to see you often on Twitter. No questions, just wanted to express my appreciation for your excellent work. I’ve always enjoyed reading your articles. 💜
Hi Lenika, thank you so much for your writing and representing ARMY in the journalistic space! I think that my husband understood why I’m in this fandom a little better after I encouraged him to read On BTS😝
I love learning about different cultures, so my question is if you have any favorite books about or authors from Guam to recommend? Aside from your upcoming memoir, of course – looking forward to it!
Hi there! Thanks so much for doing this and representing ARMY well! 💜
I was so frustrated by the western media’s handling of the “hiatus” announcement back in 2022. It seemed like they were breathless to push this narrative that it was going to be a “hiatus” in the same sense One Direction went on “hiatus”–that is, that BTS was disbanding and never coming back together again. How much do you think this was stuff getting lost in translation, western media wanting to push a bad narrative, and/or Big Hit just (understandably!) misjudging how to message this/unintentionally fumbling it?
Also, and sorry in advance that these are both “gripe” kind of questions, it seems like western media/music industry only wants to consider BTS in the context of the 1990s/2000s boy band craze. I was personally frustrated over the past year that despite all their efforts to make solo tracks in English and climbing the Billboard charts, they never seemed to get much airplay. I still hear Butter and Dynamite often (which I am grateful for!) but I have never heard Like Crazy or any of JK’s album on the radio, which makes me sad. 🙁 Do you think there is any truth to this feeling and why it might be if so?
Hi Lenika! I’ve enjoyed your articles and your BTS book along with your interviews! You’ve asked really deep questions and have gone in depth with their music and lyrics.
My question to you is: do you see more writers/interviewers/music critics in the US that will ask deeper questions about their music, lyrics, messages, career goals as both a group when they come back alongside their solo projects? There have been some great interviews and articles that have been done; I’m just wondering from a professional viewpoint. Thank you so much! 💜
Edit: I am back!
YEOROBUN (taeyang voice)—your questions are all so good and I want to answer them all. Taking a quick lunch break and will be back to it 🙂 But I am having the best time today, so thank you!
Hello, Lenika!
First, I want to say I thoroughly enjoy your articles and thoughtful discourse about Bangtan. It’s rare that they are approached with gravitas and grace that I am still sometimes surprised when it happens. Thank you for being one of those rare voices who contribute to a more balanced view of Bangtan. Do you think that your cultural background contributed to a more nuanced view of the group? Or it was more your musical perspective that came into play when you would write about them?
Second, I would like to ask, how was it for you to finally talk to Bangtan members in person? We talk so much about them here (and in other spaces) that they feel omnipresent, but we know they are so far removed from our daily lives that meeting them is pipe dream. I remember the first time I saw them in concert, I couldn’t believe they were real people. It took me a while to wrap my head around the fact that the people who had such a significant impact on me were right there. It all felt very surreal. Sorry for the long-winded comment; I guess I just want to ask how you felt when you were finally able to ask them questions.
Thank you so much for coming here and making time!
Hi Lenika! I don’t really have a question but I just wanted to say thank you for writing your “The Astonishing Duality of BTS” and “Suga of BTS’ World Tour is Pop Subversion at Its Finest” articles! My mother sent them to me after having read them herself and immediately asked me to play some of BTS’ (and Suga’s specifically) songs for her, knowing that I was a fan of the group. We listened to Seesaw, People, and some other songs, and it was (and is!) so much fun to share music with her. So I just wanted to say thank you for your writing!