Fans of the mega-popular South Korean boy band group Bangtan Boys, better known as BTS, would recognise the phrase “borahae" instantly. The phrase, which has become synonymous with the group and their fans worldwide (better known as the BTS ARMY) was coined way back in 2016. After several years of serving as the hallmark of fans’ devotion towards the seven-member band, the term has now popped up in the news in a legal context. Borahae is making headlines now because the Korean Intellectual Property Office recently rejected Hybe Corporation’s attempt to trademark the term for themselves. Hybe owns Big Hit Music, the label that represents BTS.
Hybe filed for a trademark of the term in June last year. The results of the same were declared recently and soon went viral. The application was rejected, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office recognising Kim Taehyung as the creator of the term. Although Kim does not officially own the copyright of the term borahae, he has still been recognised as the creator by the IPO.
Fans remain divided over the entire ordeal. While some are irked that Hybe would try something like this, others have come out in the support of Hybe, pointing out that the trademark would preserve the word for BTS and ARMYs.
#BORAHAE #KimTaehyung #VforBorahaeHybe stop pulling away Taehyung's credits from him. The world knows Borahae was coined by him. Give him his due! Respect your artist! #BorahaeKimTaehyung #BorahaeV
— TaeGuk🐻💜🐰 TaeGuk🐻💜🐰 (@sonorusvo) October 7, 2022
Can't believe hybe tried to trademark and own borahae to themselves (without crediting Tae) when they have its creator in their mfing house under their management like this low hella low!!Hope next step is Tae trademarking to himself officially!! https://t.co/Eku3QTR2Cd— “ (@BELLAKTH___) October 7, 2022
“i purple you “/ “ borahae" belongs only to Kim taehyung ,and Kim Taehyung only. pic.twitter.com/qq2mpnb53Q— — (@taekook2601x) October 7, 2022
Some of you need a lesson in reading comprehension. Hybe filing a trademark for Borahae was not taking it from Tae, they were trying to protect it for BTS & Army.— BTSARMYMOM ᴮᴱ ⁷ (@letstalkabtsuga) October 7, 2022
HYBE didn't just wake up one day and decide to copyright borahae btw. They did it in! response! to! complaints! from! ARMY! about companies attempting to use the term to exploit us and BTS. https://t.co/RX4RfxSbbs pic.twitter.com/JHUQn27E7A— 🚦 chels⁷ is in mono by rm szn (@ndeverydayistay) October 7, 2022
The term in question was coined in a 2016 concert by one of the group members, V (Kim Taehyung). He explained that borahae, meaning “I Purple You", signifies “I’ll love you till the end of days," since purple (violet) is the color at the end of the rainbow band. The phrase is a portmanteau of two Korean words: “bora" meaning violet, and “saranghae", meaning I love you.
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Ever since it was coined, “borahae" became indistinguishable from BTS and ARMYs across the world. Since it has caught on and formed a major undercurrent in pop culture, the term has also become the theme of many BTS collaborations.
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