How BTS's Jin helped a kid from Mexico cope with autism

Apparently, Mr. Worldwide Handsome's music has healing powers.

Before BigHit Entertainment changed its name to HYBE Corporation, its slogan was “Music and Artist for Healing.” Fans used to say it fit the company perfectly because the groups and soloists on its roster changed their lives for the better. Some even shared their stories with the world through SNS.

 

One story that gained traction recently was about Arturito, a young boy from Mexico with autism, epilepsy, and other illnesses. According to his mother, he used to have terrible autistic spectrum crises that made him anxious and scared. Sometimes he would even bite himself. The poor boy couldn’t even listen to music because any loud noise would make him cover his ears and cry.

 

BTS changed all that.

 

His mother was extremely surprised when Arturito started singing along to a certain song—which turned out to be “Epiphany,” a solo track by Jin that appeared on the Korean septet’s Love Yourself: Answer album. Now, whenever he watches the song’s official music video, Arturito kisses and touches the screen. His mother says the song calms him down and makes him feel comfortable and safe.

 

Studies show that music provides structure for a child with autism. This is because familiar cues from the harmony, melody, and rhythm in a song that child knows well give them comfort even in a stressful or unfamiliar setting. Arturito was healed by “Epiphany,” and now he’s a big fan of BTS. His bias, of course, is none other than Jin.

 

“Epiphany” was one of the first K-Pop songs to talk about self-love explicitly. Thanks to Jin’s emotional delivery and its unique sound, the song became very popular—not just among ARMY but also among the general public. As of this writing, “Epiphany” has earned over 100 million streams on Spotify, making Jin the second-most streamed BTS member on all the digital music platforms available in South Korea.

 

Arturito’s story isn’t the only proof of the song’s power. When the music critic Kim Doheon listed the best BTS songs of all time, he put Jin’s 2018 solo track at No. 4.

 

“Part of Jin’s charisma is that he helps make the other members shine,” said Doheon. “In the beginning, he sings about doubting himself. But later on in the song, Jin sings about overcoming challenges through loving and trusting himself while he walks towards more growth and success. It can be seen as a symbol of BTS’s journey.”

 

Doheon also talked about Jin’s self-written song “Abyss,” which dropped last December, saying he likes the BTS mat-hyung’s solo stuff.

 

Arturito and his mother feel the same way. The boy is doing much better these days, thanks to Jin and his soaring vocals.


Juan Leonardo Mauricio

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