K-pop boyband BTS are back on homesoil after a highly successful American and European World Tour that saw them perform in front of hundreds of thousands of fans.
The seven-member group was in Seoul on Wednesday to receive a prestigious cultural medal awarded by the South Korean government.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
Another big achievement for BTS.
The sensational boyband has received one of the Korean government's prestigious medals for culture -- the fifth rank of the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit.
It's given to those who have contributed to the development of the national culture -- in the case of BTS, for helping spread Korean culture and the Korean alphabet Hangeul around the world.
The band went to accept the medal Wednesday in Seoul at the 9th Korea Entertainment Awards, a ceremony run by the ministry of culture.
With an average age of less than 24 years old,... the members of BTS have become the youngest ever recipients of the cultural medal,... an honor higher than even a commendation from the president.
It had been given previously only to artists who'd worked for an average of around 50 years.
"Thank you. When we go abroad, we see a lot of people singing along to our songs and studying our language, Hangeul. We feel very proud, and we promise we will continue to promote our culture to the world."
Only twice before has the medal been given for promoting Korean culture -- in 2008 to actor Bae Yong-joon, and in 2012 to popstar PSY.
Their fans are outspoken about why they love the band so much.
"They are very real. Very many celebrities especially in America where we are from, its hard to get in touch what they are feeling. They rarely express what they are going through, and BTS is so fluent with everything, transparent, they don't seem to hide anything."
"They just seem like they are having a lot of fun doing what they are doing. A lot of celebrities look like its fake but they seem like they are really enjoying it, looks like its real from behind the scene."
With one more prestigious decoration on their shelf, BTS will resume their world tour, called "Love Yourself," with concerts scheduled for next month in Japan.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
