With BTS fans for the release of Beyond the story, the official story of the k-pop group

On the Grands Boulevards, the usually hurried pace of the capital matches the gentle rise of the mercury. On this peaceful summer morning, the independent bookstore Ici wakes up to its own rhythm. Through the window, we can see a few employees busying themselves before the opening of the store. The ambient calm contrasts with the excitement of the two teenagers stamping their feet in front of the closed door. For them, it's a special day: Beyond the story, the book retracing the history of the BTS group, has been published and the bookstore is organizing a day of activities around the event.

The ten years of the group are celebrated with the publication of this official work, signed Myeongseok Kang, a journalist specializing in K-pop and illustrated with numerous photographs on the epic of the internationally renowned boy band. The author tells the chronology of the rise of the seven young men, from their first single, ten years ago, to their consecration at the Grammy Awards in 2022. The story is interspersed with the testimony of the artists.

For this special day, the bookstore offers exchanges between enthusiasts, quizzes, a "fan arts" contest (works of art made by fans representing their idols) or another to win collectible cards featuring members. of the group.

10 a.m. The doors of the bookstore open. The two teenagers rush to the counter. Beyond the story is sold for 34.90 euros. Behind the checkout, Anne Laure Vial, director of the bookstore, remains perplexed. "We were happy to host this event," she said. But I admit to having trouble understanding the phenomenon.

While the first fans pay for their purchase, Manon, organizer of the event, is still sticking her posters on the stalls. The young student is part of the BTS Army France, the largest group of fans of the group in France. This 1901 law association "for the promotion of the group" brings together nearly 30 active members and is followed by more than 100,000 people on various social networks. “Our role is to relay information about the group, to set up events and, above all, to share our admiration with other enthusiasts, explains Manon. For the release of the book, we wanted to organize something in a bookstore. It's important to see the fans in person rather than behind a screen."

Of the book, which she has already devoured, Manon finds nothing to complain about. “I was completely won over! You really get into their thoughts, you understand their creative process, the emotions and the hardships they went through!, she exclaims. When you read that, you can only love them.” Fan talk.

In the basement, the other members of the BTS Army stand ready. They even managed to convince Mihae Son and Kyungran Choi to join them. The two women, who exchange in Korean, are among the four translators who wrote the French version. They themselves admit to being conquered by the phenomenon. “Before translating this book, I only knew the band by name. Now, I closely follow everything related to their careers!” says Mihae Son enthusiastically.

The translation was a real ordeal: the four women had only one month for the 576 pages of the French edition. Printed in more than 3 million copies, translated into 22 languages ​​and published in 24 editions, the book had a worldwide release on July 9. No way for Le Seuil, the French publisher, to be late. Nathalie Fiszman, literary director of the house, does not hide the issues. “We have dedicated a large budget to the distribution of this book, it is clearly our biggest project of the year. We feel a great expectation from the fans. So far, 120,000 copies in French have been printed and 80,000 of them are in bookstores.

Paradoxically, when BTS fans are storming bookstores, the group is taking a break for at least a year. After delaying their departure as much as possible, two of the members were caught up in Korean military service. For their part, the other members take advantage of the period to publish singles or even solo albums. With some success: Manon went to New York for the first dates of Suga's solo tour. "It was something magical and I would do it again in a heartbeat!" Solo or in a group, the opportunity will certainly come back. Suga assures as much in the book. Their producer had told him one day: "You can never give up music." “Even if I were forced to do it, I would necessarily come back to it,” he testifies. And the fans will surely be there.

Beyond the story, Myeongseok Kang, Editions du Seuil, 576 pages, 34.90 euros (until July 31), then 39.90 euros.