Promoting Stop Anti-Asian Crime Campaign, BTS Is Invited To Meet American President Joe Biden

JAKARTA - South Korean boy group BTS will meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House next week to discuss how to deal with rising anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, the White House said on Thursday, May 26 local time.

On Tuesday, May 31, the global K-pop group and Grammy-nominated Republic of Korea BTS will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address hate crimes and anti-Asian discrimination that have been on the rise in recent years. lastly," the White House said in a press release, quoted from Yonhap, Friday, May 27.

The White House said President Biden and BTS will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and the BTS platform as young ambassadors spreading messages of hope and positive influence around the world. According to the White House, other details regarding this meeting will be announced later.

The rare invitation for South Korean pop artists to come to the White House comes amid a sharp increase in crime targeting Asian Americans and other minority communities in the US.

According to the White House, President Biden has previously spoken of his commitment to fighting the wave of anti-Asian hate crimes.

In addition, the White House said, Biden had also signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021 as a legal umbrella for hate crimes cases against Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPI) that escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic.