Beyond the Story captures the past ten years of the band

The official BTS book Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS (Beyond the Story), published in celebration of the K-pop group’s 10 year anniversary, topped The New York Times’ Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller list.

Based on the ranking that reflects sales during the first week of publication and pre-order sales for the books published on July 9th onward, Beyond the Story became No. 1 bestseller on The New York Times immediately upon publication. The book broke a record as the first time a Korean author that took the top spot on the prestigious list.

Also upon its release, Beyond the Story landed at the top of the bestseller lists on Amazon in multiple regions including the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and Japan while also topping several bestseller lists in Korea. In particular, the book set a record for the highest pre-order sales on Amazon in Brazil.

Beyond the Story shines lights on the past 10 years of BTS, who have become the 21st century pop icons. The book was planned and produced over many years, based on intimate interviews with the band’s members. The book has been published in 23 different languages around the world.

Debuting in 2013 with their first album 2 Cool 4 Skool, BTS has been venturing into uncharted territories and breaking numerous records.

BTS made their debut with “No More Dream,” the lead single of the project, in 2013. The band swept the rookie awards for the first couple years, and began to rise to stardom with their third mini album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1 in 2015. After successfully wrapping up the “School Trilogy” with albums—2 Cool 4 Skool, O!RUL8,2?, and Skool Luv Affair—BTS tapped into the theme of “youth” through The most beautiful moment in life series (“Youth Series”) that conveyed profound messages they could relate to at the time. Later in 2015, BTS made their first entrance in Billboard 200 with The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2, expanding their global reach.

Since then, BTS hasn’t slowed down, and grabbed all kinds of “first” titles in every path they took. In 2017, BTS became the first Korean artist to win an award at Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) and to perform solo at the American Music Awards (AMA). In 2020, the band’s mega hit song “Dynamite” made the group the first Korean artist to be ranked at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, and “Life Goes On” became the first song in Korean lyrics to top the chart in Billboard charts’ 62-year history then. The group now has a total of six songs that topped the chart, including “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” with Jason Derulo and “My Universe” with Coldplay. They also hold six No. 1 records on Billboard 200 with albums Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’, Love Yourself 結 ‘Answer’, Map of the Soul: Persona, Map of the Soul: 7, Be and Proof.

BTS is also the first Korean act to be nominated at the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years, and performed solo two years in a row. The group won a number of categories at the BBMAs for six consecutive years, and the AMAs for five consecutive years including Artist of the Year in 2021, validating their title as true global pop icons.

BTS are also known for their global influence for spreading positive messages around the world as “Voices of Generation.” In 2018, 2020 and 2021, BTS participated in the United Nations General Assembly to make a speech, representing the global youth. In 2021, they were appointed as Special presidential envoy for future generations and culture. In 2022, they became the first Korean artist to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and diversity with the US President at the White House.

BTS began their second chapter with the members’ solo projects alongside group works. The members of BTS has been unveiling their solo projects that show their own colors, sharing their music and characters on their own terms.