Extensive queues at BTS fan festival in Seoul commemorating the group's 11th anniversary
A 40-year-old Mexican man named Hector Sosa said that his daughter is a fan and they bought tickets for her birthday. They landed at the Seoul Airport at 5:00 am in the morning and were driven straight to the fan event. Lisa Pavelchack, a 48-year-old woman from Ohio, also traveled to South Korea specifically for the festival. The festival is organized by HYBE, the company that represents BTS. Last year, it attracted 400,000 attendees and is expected to have even more visitors this year.
One of the most exciting parts for fans was the return of Jin, the oldest member of BTS, who completed his 18-month military service on Wednesday. All BTS members have had to go through mandatory military service since 2022, which halted the band's activities. Jin is now free to perform again. The other six members, however, still need to finish their military commitment.
Jin promised fans at the festival a concert after two years of absence and a "Huggathon," where 1000 fans would get to hug him on a conveyor belt. This event was proposed by Jin himself, but the number of participants had to be reduced due to safety concerns. Jin initially wanted to hug 3000 fans, but that was changed.
"I've always wanted to hug him," said a 19-year-old fan from Thailand named Ann Suwanan. On the day of Jin's return, she wore a purple dress like the band's color. After Jin completed his military service on Wednesday, she cried out of happiness, according to AFP.
