Group BTS released a global promotion video titled "ENDviolence" on International Friendship Day, July 30.
On the occasion of International Friendship Day appointed by the UN, UNICEF cooperated with BTS to release a video for the violence elimination campaign. This video appeals to the community to show interest in the world's youth and children who are suffering various forms of violence at home, in school, and in society. It also contains a message that kindness and friendship can become a great source of strength for those who suffer school violence.
The video was made as a part of UNICEF's campaign for eradication of violence against global children namely "ENDviolence" and the campaign "LOVE MYSELF" that is being carried out by BTS as well as their management company Big Hit Entertainment (hereinafter Big Hit) alongside with UNICEF since 2017. The video is available in 6 languages including 5 UN's official languages - English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese - and for the first time in UNICEF's history, in Korean, making the video even more special.
The video of 2 minutes and 30 seconds recorded the image of friends expressing kindness and warm friendship to teenagers who suffer school violence such as collective bullying and cyberbullying. Through the video, BTS wants to convey the message that let's become warm, mature individuals and treat each other with kindness and respect.
BTS members shared, "LOVE MYSELF is a campaign aimed at encouraging children and teenagers over the world to find the love inside themselves and spread it to others. Hopefully, through the sharing of love and kindness, violence in the world will soon disappear."
Lee Ki Chul, general secretary of the UNICEF Korea said, "We are very glad that BTS, who is conveying messages of hope to teenagers around the world, has joined us in this global campaign for an end to violence. Hope that the video in collaboration of UNICEF and BTS on the International Friendship Day will be encouragement and comfort to children and adolescents worldwide as well as becoming a motivation for everyone to share kindness with each other."
At present, up to 150 million children and teenagers - half of the number of students worldwide (13 ~ 15 years old) - have experienced various forms of violence from groups of peers inside and outside of schools.
[Ilgan Sports = Reporter Hwang Ji Young] hwang.jeeyoung@jtbc.co.kr
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This video is beautiful. I was bullied during my school years and I think that campaigns that help young people and children are very important. Many teenagers don't have the power to defend themselves so if we spread awareness we can safe many of them from being bullied.