On February 10, 2024, BTS member Kim Seok Jin, also known as Jin, made headlines as news of his fanbase planting 476 Araucaria araucana trees to reforest the Bosque Andino Patagonico Forest in Argentina surfaced online.
Two fan bases @BTS_RioNegro and @BTSArmyHomeArg implemented this initiative in October 2023 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the BTS superstar's debut single, Astronaut. Fans around the world applauded the initiative taken by the Argentine ARMY fanbase with one fan praising it as “the most thoughtful donation ever”.
For the unversed, just before he joined the South Korean army, Jin released his first solo song Astronaut, on October 28, 2022. The song was co-written by idol BTS and British band Coldplay and explores themes of love through cosmic connection.
“BTS definitely inspires everyone to do better”: Fans praise Jin’s fan clubs for their huge donation
The update was shared by Twitter account @seokjinism1, who stated that the Argentine fanbases received official certification from the Guardian Del Bosque Foundation to donate 476 Araucaria Araucana trees on behalf of the BTS star. Furthermore, the trees are said to be planted in Parque Nacional Lanin, also known as Lanin National Park in Neuquén, Argentina.
For the uninitiated, the Bosque Andino Patagónico, also referred to as the Patagonian Andean Forest, is one of the rare temperate forests that remains mostly untouched despite minimal human intervention. It takes up approximately 6.5 million hectares of land. As a result of its archaeological and historical importance, it also has cultural importance.
BTS members are known for their charitable facade which has motivated the military and many other organizations to participate in donations. Previously, in 2019 Astronaut The singer-songwriter has been selected as a member of UNICEF Korea's Honor Club. The club is for a limited number of contributors who have contributed at least 100 million won (roughly $88,000) to the foundation's mission.
This singer has made similar donations over the years to several causes and has been praised. Moreover, the military is well aware moon The singer's desire to build a national park to protect plants and animals. Thus, the thoughtful donation by the idol fan bases in Argentina @BTS_RioNegro and @BTSArmyHomeArg has made everyone happy.
Here's how ARMYs reacted to the news and praised Jin on X's Argentinian fans:
The BTS members' charitable endeavors have inspired ARMY to donate to various projects under the identities of the group members. On Jungkook's birthday in 2019, supporters donated to several charities in his honor, such as We Purple Rain, an initiative that raised enough money to plant more than 8,000 trees in the Amazon rainforest.
Fans from Vietnam sent 15,000 notebooks to charities in honor of J-Hope's birthday and raised money for 14 young men who needed palate surgery to correct their cleft lips. Additionally, fans contributed US$6,400 to about 70 groups in Busan, some of which support children with disabilities.
After the explosion in Beirut in August 2020, supporters came to the Lebanese Red Cross on behalf of Taehyung. Jimin's worldwide fan base has contributed more than 1,500 pounds of rice to the Council of Regional Children's Centers in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, for children affected by COVID-19.
Following the floods in India's Assam state in October 2020, a BTS fan account on Twitter launched an online fundraising campaign. In less than a day, the campaign generated about $7,800 for flood victims.
Meanwhile, Jin is scheduled to be discharged from his military service in June 2024 and is said to be releasing his debut solo album in the same year.
