Seoul: Excitement was palpable in central Seoul on Friday as fans of K-pop supergroup BTS from around the world gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, a day before the group's first full-member concert since completing military service.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on the wide steps outside the nearby Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, wrapped with large white letters spelling "BTS," visitors posed for photos against giant billboards looping concert teasers. Fans holding purple balloons, a color symbolic of the group's fandom, known as ARMY, cheered when the seven members occasionally appeared on screen.
Among them was Laetitia Levasseur, a French student visiting with her boyfriend. She expressed her love for the place, mentioning the palace, the gate, and the happy mood as she took photos in the spring sunshine. A fan for three years, she had failed to get a ticket but said she had already visited the spot three times and might come back even more during her trip.
On the other side of the steps, two housewives from Guri, east of Seoul, had been luckier. Park Hee-sun, 48, wearing a lavender BTS hoodie, shared her mix of excitement and anxiety but mainly joy. She highlighted the significance of the concert as BTS' first comeback since completing military service, noting the huge anticipation among ARMYs.
Her friend Woo Yeon-joo, 44, added that she couldn't sleep due to the anticipation. She expressed the emotional significance of seeing the full lineup return, revealing a black BTS T-shirt as she shared her excitement.
The concert's pull extended far beyond Korea. Nina, a 29-year-old retail worker from Australia, said her trip was initially planned around Seoul Fashion Week, not BTS. She noted the coincidence of her trip lining up with the concert and shared her experience visiting BTS landmarks during her stay.
From India, Miral Koradia, 28, a small business owner, expressed her excitement despite not securing tickets. She emphasized the global impact of BTS' free concert for fans worldwide and expressed hope for BTS to include India in their next world tour, acknowledging the large fanbase there.
For many fans, Saturday's show means more than a concert -- it fulfills BTS' promise to reunite as a septet after years of solo projects and military service. Fans reflected on how BTS' music helped them through difficult times, expressing gratitude for the group's impact on their lives.