7FATES: CHAKHO is a suspenseful web novel and webtoon series developed by the successful K-pop group BTS, and the firm HYBE. It was released on January 15, 2022, and caused a huge stir with over 15 million views just two days after its release.
A Combination of History and Fiction
Based in the imaginary city of Sin-si, the series is inspired by Korea's Joseon Dynasty's best tiger hunters, the "Chakhogapsa." Sin-si, in this imagined version, is haunted by "Beom," tiger-like beings that prey on the city. Seven young men, each of whom has his own unique backstory and powers, band together to fight these creatures and unravel their complicated fates.
Characters Inspired by BTS Members
Each of the main characters in the series portrays a member of BTS, making it more personal and richer for fans:
Zeha (Jungkook): Half-beom, half-human struggling between his double life.
Haru (Jimin): Initially, he was a guardian stone who later became a mentor to teach Zeha how to excel at his craft.
Dogeon (RM): Veteran crime investigator turned beom hunter due to personal loss.
Hwan (Jin): Revenant archer who lost his loved ones to beom attacks.
Cein (Suga): A survivor of a traumatic beom experience, searching for a reason.
Hosu (J-Hope): He has golden eyes and a mysterious past with secrets.
Jooan (V): A kind person caught in a forbidden love with a beom.
These characters, though not actual individuals, possess personality characteristics akin to those of the BTS members and give fans a lot of fantasy and reality.
Global Reception and Impact "7FATES: CHAKHO" was a massive hit when it was released, reaching WEBTOON's New & Trending charts in many languages including English, Japanese, and Spanish. It has a very high rating of 9.9 out of 10, showing how well it has done. Releasing ten languages at once was a first in the business, showing how international BTS is and how creative HYBE can be with storytelling.