When K-pop Idols Embrace Noblesse Oblige: BTS’s Jimin and the Culture of Giving Back
Published September 26, 2025 04:54 AM
Jason Yim
On September 25, the Jeonbuk Office of Education revealed that BTS member Jimin had donated 100 million won (about $73,000) in scholarships to support students across the province. The gift was made quietly through his father, who phoned the office in July to express his son’s wish to help. The sum was later delivered to the office’s Love Scholarship Foundation.
BTS member Jimin [Bighit]
This is hardly an isolated act. Since 2019, when he first contributed to the Busan Office of Education, Jimin has chosen one regional education office each year, donating 100 million won annually. With Jeonbuk now added, he has given a total of 600 million won in scholarships over six years. As Acting Superintendent Yoo Jeong-gi put it, “We sincerely thank Jimin for this warm act of sharing for the future of children. The scholarship will be used to support students who are studying under challenging circumstances.”
Jimin’s gesture is part of a larger trend in K-pop, where leading figures use their fame and fortune for public good. His BTS bandmate Suga, for instance, has repeatedly marked his birthday with donations, including 100 million won to aid disaster relief in 2023. IU, one of Korea’s most celebrated solo artists, has become equally renowned for her philanthropy, quietly giving to children’s hospitals, marginalized students, and disaster victims—her cumulative donations are reported to exceed 5 billion won. Likewise, EXO’s Baekhyun and Suho have joined in disaster aid campaigns, while Blackpink’s members have supported global relief projects, from Australian wildfire recovery to pandemic-related initiatives.
These acts exemplify a concept once tied primarily to aristocracy: noblesse oblige—the moral responsibility of privilege to serve the greater good. In Korea’s entertainment industry, where idol stars occupy an outsized role in shaping youth culture, such gestures carry symbolic weight. They show fans that influence is not only measured in album sales or streaming numbers but also in the ability to uplift those left behind.
The entertainment world is not immune from criticism, often spotlighted for excess, scandals, or the relentless pressures placed upon young performers. Yet, when artists demonstrate social conscience, they reshape public perceptions of celebrity itself. Jimin’s ongoing scholarship project highlights a model of sustainable giving—structured, consistent, and locally targeted—that distinguishes it from one-off charity events. It illustrates how star power can bridge private generosity and public need.
IU, Courtesy of Edam
In a society where inequality remains a pressing concern, especially in education, such acts resonate beyond headlines. They remind both fans and the broader public that cultural icons, despite their glamorous lifestyles, acknowledge their bond to community. In that sense, the return of wealth and attention to vulnerable groups is not simply benevolence but a fulfillment of responsibility.
As K-pop continues its global rise, so too does the expectation that its leading figures embody not only artistic excellence but also ethical leadership. BTS’s Jimin, through his steady scholarship giving, offers a case study of noblesse oblige translated into twenty-first century pop culture: fame used not to withdraw into privilege, but to lift others toward opportunity.
SayArt.net Jason Yim yimjongho1969@gmail.com
On September 25, the Jeonbuk Office of Education revealed that BTS member Jimin had donated 100 million won (about $73,000) in scholarships to support students across the province. The gift was made quietly through his father, who phoned the office in July to express his son’s wish to help. The sum was later delivered to the office’s Love Scholarship Foundation.
BTS member Jimin [Bighit]
This is hardly an isolated act. Since 2019, when he first contributed to the Busan Office of Education, Jimin has chosen one regional education office each year, donating 100 million won annually. With Jeonbuk now added, he has given a total of 600 million won in scholarships over six years. As Acting Superintendent Yoo Jeong-gi put it, “We sincerely thank Jimin for this warm act of sharing for the future of children. The scholarship will be used to support students who are studying under challenging circumstances.”
Jimin’s gesture is part of a larger trend in K-pop, where leading figures use their fame and fortune for public good. His BTS bandmate Suga, for instance, has repeatedly marked his birthday with donations, including 100 million won to aid disaster relief in 2023. IU, one of Korea’s most celebrated solo artists, has become equally renowned for her philanthropy, quietly giving to children’s hospitals, marginalized students, and disaster victims—her cumulative donations are reported to exceed 5 billion won. Likewise, EXO’s Baekhyun and Suho have joined in disaster aid campaigns, while Blackpink’s members have supported global relief projects, from Australian wildfire recovery to pandemic-related initiatives.
These acts exemplify a concept once tied primarily to aristocracy: noblesse oblige—the moral responsibility of privilege to serve the greater good. In Korea’s entertainment industry, where idol stars occupy an outsized role in shaping youth culture, such gestures carry symbolic weight. They show fans that influence is not only measured in album sales or streaming numbers but also in the ability to uplift those left behind.
The entertainment world is not immune from criticism, often spotlighted for excess, scandals, or the relentless pressures placed upon young performers. Yet, when artists demonstrate social conscience, they reshape public perceptions of celebrity itself. Jimin’s ongoing scholarship project highlights a model of sustainable giving—structured, consistent, and locally targeted—that distinguishes it from one-off charity events. It illustrates how star power can bridge private generosity and public need.
IU, Courtesy of Edam
In a society where inequality remains a pressing concern, especially in education, such acts resonate beyond headlines. They remind both fans and the broader public that cultural icons, despite their glamorous lifestyles, acknowledge their bond to community. In that sense, the return of wealth and attention to vulnerable groups is not simply benevolence but a fulfillment of responsibility.
As K-pop continues its global rise, so too does the expectation that its leading figures embody not only artistic excellence but also ethical leadership. BTS’s Jimin, through his steady scholarship giving, offers a case study of noblesse oblige translated into twenty-first century pop culture: fame used not to withdraw into privilege, but to lift others toward opportunity.
