Podcast Ep.4 — BTS's Grammy Boycott, Explained

Decoding Korea Podcast · Ep.04

Native-speed Korean, fully explained in English

All seven members of BTS just posted the exact same message: they're skipping the Grammys this year. No anger, no direct criticism — just a quiet statement. And yet American and British newspapers called it "soft, but a very intense criticism." This week, one deep-dive story: what actually happened, how fans and Korean celebrities reacted, the real reason behind the timing, and what it reveals about how Koreans say "no" without ever raising their voice.

Listen first, then use the expression guide below to catch exactly how Koreans say things without saying them.

1. What happened: BTS announces they're skipping the Grammys

00:19 in the episode

On July 29, all seven BTS members posted the same message: "We've decided not to submit for the Grammys this year." A month earlier, the Grammys had created a new category, "Best Asian Pop Music Performance," for songs in an Asian language like K-pop, J-pop, or C-pop. On the surface, it looks like a win for Asian music. BTS saw it differently — RM wrote that he hopes music can be loved for what it is, "rather than divided by region or language."

2. Fan and celebrity reactions — and the deleted videos

01:13 in the episode

Fan reactions were intense — ARMYs rallied behind BTS, proud of the stance. Then things got worse: BTS's old performance videos suddenly disappeared from the Grammys' official channels. Fans were furious, and the line "you can delete it from a website, but you can't delete it from history" spread fast on social media. Korean celebrities joined in too — singer Tablo wrote "Arirang is bigger than the Grammys," and KPop Demon Hunters director Maggie Kang gave her applause.

3. The real reason behind the boycott

01:50 in the episode

Here's what the news isn't telling you. First, the timing: BTS's new album "Arirang" hit No. 1 on Billboard this year, putting them in the conversation for the Grammys' biggest General Field awards — and right at that moment, the Grammys created the "Asian Pop" category, just two months before the submission deadline. A lot of people started thinking: isn't this just a way to avoid giving them the big award by bundling them into a smaller one instead? Second, how BTS said it — they didn't get angry, didn't directly criticize the Grammys, and just quietly said they wouldn't be submitting. That's exactly why American and British newspapers called it "soft, but a very intense criticism." In Korea, even when people are angry, they often don't say it directly — they say it gently, indirectly. But the person listening understands completely. BTS said "no" in the most Korean way possible.

4. What happens next?

02:55 in the episode

The head of the Grammys said he respects BTS's decision and that the new category "wasn't meant to divide anyone." But the fans' hearts had already moved on. Now everyone's watching two things: will other K-pop artists follow BTS's lead, and will the Grammys scrap or change the category? Next February's Grammy ceremony just got a lot more interesting.

5. Today's expression: 돌려 말하다 (to say it indirectly)

03:21 in the episode

"돌리다" means "to turn" — so "돌려 말하다" literally means to "turn" your words instead of saying something directly. In English: to say something indirectly. If a friend asks how their outfit looks and it's not great, you might say "hmm... I think another color might suit you well too" instead of "no." That's 돌려 말하기. BTS did the exact same thing to the Grammys — and the whole world understood exactly what they meant.

Key Korean expressions from this episode

Korean	Romanization	Meaning
돌려 말하다	dollyeo malhada	to say something indirectly
출품하다	chulpumhada	to submit / enter a competition
본상	bonsang	the general/main award category
부문	bumun	category, division
발칵 뒤집히다	balkkak dwijipida	to be thrown into an uproar
자랑스럽다	jarangseureopda	to be proud
힘을 보태다	himeul botaeda	to lend one's support
묶다	mukda	to bundle together, group
조용히	joyonghi	quietly
강렬하다	gangnyeolhada	to be intense
어울리다	eoullida	to suit, match well