Fact Check: Did The Korean Government Pay For BTS’s Jin To Be A Torch Bearer At The “2024 Summer Olympics”?
BTS‘s Jin recently participated in the torch relay at the 2024 Summer Olympics. His appearance was a huge source of pride for many ARMY and Koreans. After all, it was a huge honor to represent South Korea at such a big event.
Jin carries the Olympic torch in Parispic.twitter.com/0nOBNQSYNj
— kim | SUPERSONIC AUG 12 (@blacckpop) July 18, 2024
According to Korean news outlets, some had doubted that Jin’s participation in the event was organic. Korean news outlets specifically called out Japanese rumors about this which claimed that the government had paid Jin’s way.
In actual fact, the Olympic torchbearers were all recommended by the Olympic Organizing Committee, official sponsors, or members of the French local government. For example, French soccer star Thierry Henry was recommended by the organizing committee, while Tang Wei, a Chinese actress, was recommended by a sponsoring partner, Meng Niu. Even Snoop Dogg was recommended by the local government for Saint-Denis.
#JIN's torch relay scene on Family Over the Border episode. pic.twitter.com/u8lfdsTM7F
— JIN PRINT (@theJINPRlNT) July 26, 2024
Jin was recommended by Samsung Electronics, an official sponsoring partner of the Summer Olympics. Samsung gave a statement to the media, claiming that “they recommended Jin, Samsung’s public relations ambassador, as he had been active in a spirit that fits that of the Olympics.”
A member of the International Olympic Committee, Yoo Seung Min, also commented that the government does not intervene as torch bearer selection is not a matter of state. The government also reportedly drew a line, stating that they were not involved in Jin’s selection.
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