Niall Horan is giving BTS credit for building a global career under a very different kind of pressure than the one he experienced with One Direction.
In a recent interview, Horan said the K-pop group’s path stands apart because of the years of training many Korean pop acts go through before reaching the public. One Direction, by contrast, came together quickly after its members auditioned separately on a televised singing competition.
Horan said he respects the discipline behind BTS’ success and noted that their preparation shaped them before they entered the international spotlight. His comments offered a measured comparison between two of the biggest pop groups of the past 15 years, without framing one path as better than the other.
The singer also reflected on his own time in One Direction, a group that became a global force almost immediately after forming. Horan has since continued as a solo artist, while BTS has remained one of the most influential acts in pop music.