By Maria Katrina Segui
World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended BTS for incorporating international sign language for the music video of its latest single, “Permission To Dance.”
Dr. Tedros took to Twitter his appreciation for the South Korean act’s kind gesture.
“Thank you, @BTS_twt, for including sign language in your #PermissiontoDance music video.
As 1.5 billion people in the world are affected by hearing loss; sign language can help them to continue enjoying music which can bring joy to life,” he shared.
On the day of the music video’s release, eagle-eyed ARMYs were quick to notice the use of sign language throughout the song. Included in the choreography were international sign languages for “fun,” “dance,” and “peace.”
Fans and netizens alike showered the South Korean septet with praise for promoting representation and inclusivity towards those with hearing loss. Stories of people with impaired hearing enjoying “Permission To Dance” went viral and touched hearts on social media.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time that the K-pop superstars were praised for representing minorities. The band’s vocalist, V, was also lauded by netizens for using sign language for his speech in the Youtube program, “Dear Class of 2020.”
On July 9, BTS released its third English track, the uplifting summer anthem, “Permission To Dance,” co-written by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.