Beyond the Story
Biography of BTS released on their 10th anniversary.
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Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS is a biography of the South Korean boy band BTS, published in 2023. The book was co-written by journalist Kang Myeong-seok and the group itself, with an English translation by Anton Hur, Clare Richards, and Slin Jung. It came out on July 9, 2023, and is divided into seven chapters: "Seoul," "Why We Exist," "Love, Hate, Army," "Inside Out," "A Flight That Never Lands," "The World Of BTS," and "We Are."
The book was translated into 23 languages. It first appeared on pre-order lists in early May 2023 with little detail. Its U.S. publisher, Flatiron Books (an imprint of Macmillan Publishers), initially listed it under the working title "4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023," describing it as a 544-page biography or autobiography. A message to booksellers later revealed that more information would come on June 13, ahead of the July 9 release, and that the initial print run was 1 million copies.
The sparse details sparked fan speculation on social media. Some noted the unusual Sunday release date (most books debut on Tuesdays), while others pointed to the large print run and short announcement-to-publication window as signs of a famous author. Fans of Taylor Swift, in particular, theorized the book was her memoir. They saw the June 13 date and the page count of 544 (which sums to 13) as references to Swift's lucky number 13. The July 9 date was also linked to her song "Last Kiss" from *Speak Now*, and fans believed she had left clues in the announcement of her re-recorded album *Speak Now (Taylor's Version)*.
The rumor grew when several U.S. bookstores posted about Swift on social media, leading to a surge in pre-orders—one store received over 600—though all were later canceled after Flatiron asked the stores to remove their posts. The unreleased book became a bestseller on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. However, on May 9, *Variety* denied that Swift was the author.
Meanwhile, other fans speculated the book was about BTS. They noted that June 13, 2023, marked the 10th anniversary of BTS's debut single "No More Dream," and July 9, 2023, was the 10th anniversary of the founding of their fan group, ARMY. On May 11, *The New York Times*, citing Flatiron, confirmed the book was an oral history of BTS, written by Kang Myeong-seok and the band members.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Kang Myeong-seok and BTS
- Translator
- Anton Hur, in collaboration with Clare Richards and Slin Jung
- Country
- South Korea
- Language
- Korean
- Subject
- Biography
- Publisher
- BigHit Music (South Korea) / Flatiron Books (United States)
- Pub Date
- July 9, 2023
- Pages
- 544
- Isbn
- 978-1-035-03154-2
- Isbn Note
- (UK) / 978-1-250-32675-1 (US)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In early May 2023, the book appeared on pre-order lists with scant information. Flatiron Books titled it '4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023', described it as a 'biography or autobiography', and numbered 544 pages. A message sent to booksellers was posted on social media; more details were to be revealed on June 13, ahead of publication on July 9, with an initial print run of 1 million copies. The limited information drove fan speculation, with some noting the unusual Sunday release date and others predicting a famous author. Fans of Taylor Swift speculated the book was her memoir, citing the June 13 date, the page count adding to 13, and the July 9 date as a reference to her song 'Last Kiss'. The rumor was fueled by bookstore social media posts alluding to Swift, leading to a surge in pre-orders—one bookstore received over 600—though all were canceled after Flatiron asked owners to remove posts. On May 9, Variety denied Swift's involvement. Meanwhile, speculation about BTS pointed out that June 13, 2023, is the 10th anniversary of BTS' first single 'No More Dream', and July 9, 2023, marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of ARMY, the BTS fan group. On May 11, The New York Times, citing Flatiron, confirmed the book is an oral history of BTS, written by Kang Myeong-seok and BTS members.
Reader's Guide
Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS serves as a significant historical document for the South Korean boy group BTS, chronicling their first decade. The book's release on July 9, 2023, coincided with the 10th anniversary of the founding of their fan group ARMY, and its announcement on June 13 marked the 10th anniversary of BTS' debut single. The book's massive initial print run of 1 million copies and its rapid rise to number 1 on the New York Times best-seller list and Amazon best-seller list within 24 hours underscore the group's global commercial impact. The pre-release speculation, including mistaken rumors about Taylor Swift, highlights the cultural phenomenon surrounding BTS and the intense engagement of their fanbase. The book is divided into seven chapters—'Seoul', 'Why We Exist', 'Love, Hate, Army', 'Inside Out', 'A Flight That Never Lands', 'The World Of BTS', and 'We Are'—and was translated into 23 languages, reflecting the group's international reach. Its publication by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, and in South Korea by BigHit Music, BTS' music label, bridges the worlds of music and publishing.
Did You Know?
- The book was initially listed under the placeholder title '4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023'.
- Fans of Taylor Swift speculated the book was her memoir because the page count of 544 adds up to 13, her lucky number.
- One bookstore received more than 600 pre-orders for the book, all later canceled after Flatiron asked the store to remove social media posts.
- The book reached number 1 on the New York Times best-seller list at its release.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in BTS
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