The group SEVENTEEN (S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, Dino) received a plaque of appreciation from the Los Angeles City Council.

On the 8th (local time), the LA City Council invited SEVENTEEN member Joshua to LA City Hall and presented him with a plaque of appreciation. This is given to organizations and individuals who have contributed to the arts, culture, and community, and the LA City Council highly praised SEVENTEEN for making the city known through their performances and The City Project.

Joshua said, “I am so grateful and honored to receive this plaque on behalf of the team,” and “I am happy to be able to promote SEVENTEEN in LA. I am also proud that I can show various places in the city to my beloved CARAT (fandom name). He received applause when he said, “I hope that SEVENTEEN and LA can shine together through our performance and ‘SEVENTEEN THE CITY LA.’”

He also said, “SEVENTEEN and LA are similar in that they unfold endless possibilities based on diversity. LA has stood tall as a global entertainment industry hub with the energy of people with diverse backgrounds. SEVENTEEN is also a city where 13 different boys come together to create our own dynamism and creativity.”

Many LA city council members, including Chairman Marqueece Harris-Dowson, Katy Yaroslavsky, John S. Lee, Traci Park, and Tim McOsker, attended the event and listened to Joshua’s speech. There was also a spectacular scene where hundreds of fans gathered to support Joshua, forming a circle around LA City Hall.

Congresswoman Katie Yaroslavsky introduced SEVENTEEN as “an incredible K-pop group that has conquered the world. More than just presenting great music, they’ve built cultural bridges connecting fans all over the world.” She continued, “SEVENTEEN has delivered a resonant message of positivity and unity. They’ve inspired millions, and their influence continues to grow.” “SEVENTEEN is also UNESCO’s first Youth Goodwill Ambassador, spreading diversity and inclusion and making a difference in people’s lives.”

The “SEVENTEEN The City LA” event, which began the day before, made us realize how much influence they’ve had in North America. At ‘Club Academy LA’, one of the top 10 clubs selected by the LA Tourism Board, a party was held to commemorate the opening of The City, and advertisements announcing SEVENTEEN‘s US landing were displayed on two large screens in the city.

‘Seventeen The City LA’ will continue until the 11th. First, on the evening of that day, the logos of SEVENTEEN and CARAT (fandom name) will be engraved on the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier, a famous landmark in the city. There will also be a fan party at a famous hotel in LA, a pop-up store where you can find exclusive merch, and F&B collaborations.

SEVENTEEN will hold ‘SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR IN US’ at the LA BMO Stadium on the 9th and 10th. This will be their first time entering a US stadium since their debut, and they plan to finish off their North American tour that started last month with a bang.

Lee Seul-bi, Donga.com reporter misty82@donga.com