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Different passports, same pulse: ARMY counts down the minutes to BTS show in Seoul
BTS fans Evie Moeller, left, and Kate Moeller from Australia pose near HYBE Labels' headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min
By Pyo Kyung-min
Anticipation has peaked across Seoul.
From subway platforms to cafe-lined streets, signs of K-pop juggernaut BTS’ impending Gwanghwamun Square performance and its vast global impact are increasingly visible throughout the capital. Light sticks protrude from backpacks, flashes of merchandise are seen as people weave through pedestrian traffic and clusters of overseas visitors move between landmarks that have taken on new symbolic meaning for the group’s worldwide fandom, called ARMY.
Although the concert has yet to begin, its influence is already reshaping the city’s atmosphere, transforming central Seoul into a gathering point for a transnational community.
Fans from across continents have arrived in steady waves, many describing the trip as the culmination of years of anticipation.
BTS fans Rashika, left, and Hina pose on the steps to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min
“I became a fan during the pandemic,” said Rashika, who flew in from California and headed directly to Gwanghwamun after landing Thursday. “We followed all their solo releases, but seeing them together again feels completely different. It feels like a moment I've been waiting for.”
At Gwanghwamun Square, towering stage installations rise against the historic backdrop of Gyeongbok Palace as crews finalize lighting and sound checks. Officials expect tens of thousands to gather there, with significantly larger numbers likely to move through adjacent streets, subway stations and commercial areas as showtime approaches.
“There is a sense that something big is about to happen,” said Hina, a transfer student from Dubai who stood with Rashika near temporary barricades. “It is not just excitement. You can feel people counting down together.”
The buildup extends well beyond the plaza.
In Yongsan District, outside HYBE headquarters, fans line up in front of BTS-themed buses to take photos, exchange handmade banners and share recommendations for locations associated with the group.
Kate Moeller, who traveled from Australia with her daughter Evie, described the journey as years in the making.
“We have been waiting for the chance to see them perform together,” she told The Korea Times. “When the concert was announced, we knew immediately that we had to come.”
Their viewing area is far from the stage, but she dismisses the distance as secondary to the experience itself.
“Just being part of the crowd will mean everything. We simply hope the members stay healthy and enjoy the moment as much as the fans will,” she said.
Not securing tickets has not diminished the sense of participation for many visitors. Akanksha, 31, from India, scrolled through photos documenting her itinerary across the city with her friend, Bina, 23.
“I thought I would feel left out,” she said. “But being here still feels meaningful. You meet people from everywhere and realize you share the same reason for coming.”
BTS fans Akanksha from India, left, and Bina from Munich pose beside a promotional bus featuring member Jungkook’s image near HYBE headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min
Aldana Italia Mourelle, 27, an office worker from Barcelona, first discovered BTS in 2018 after hearing the group’s song “Fake Love” on a Spotify playlist.
“At that time I did not know anything about Korea, K-pop or BTS,” she said. “I just liked the song. Then I saw them perform at the Billboard Music Awards and realized how incredible they were as performers."
"After that, I started watching their videos and interviews. Their lyrics felt very meaningful even though I did not understand Korean,” she added.
Her friend Paula Bacaicoa Guillaumet, 30, began following the group in 2020 after watching the music video for the single “ON.” Both said BTS’ popularity in Spain expanded significantly during the pandemic, as digital consumption increased and international audiences became more engaged with Korean pop culture.
BTS fans from Spain pose with their light sticks at Superstar Tteokbokki, a restaurant in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
“In Barcelona you can often hear their songs playing in stores or see people carrying their merchandise,” Mourelle said. “Their global visibility really grew during that period.”
Although neither secured tickets for the Gwanghwamun performance, the pair plan to watch the concert together with friends.
“We are very excited about the comeback,” Mourelle said. “It has been almost three years since their military service period began, so seeing them all together again for such a big performance makes us feel proud. With the whole city turning purple, the atmosphere feels very emotional.”
Eugene Nah, left, and his wife, owners of Superstar Tteokbokki, pose at their restaurant near HYBE headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan District. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min
Local businesses have reported noticeable shifts in daily routines as international visitors continue to arrive. Eugene Nah, who operates Superstar Tteokbokki, a famous BTS-themed restaurant, said fans have been gathering there simply to experience the moment together.
“Some watch livestreams here when they can’t get tickets,” he said. “It becomes a small celebration. Sometimes it feels like we’re welcoming the whole world.”
He added that the fandom’s culture of consideration has left a lasting impression.
“After concerts, I’ve seen fans clean up the streets voluntarily. That kind of respect shows how much they care — not just about the artists, but about the places connected to them.”
As anticipation builds, the movement of fans across Seoul suggests that the upcoming performance is not only a musical event but also a symbolic reunion between artists and a global audience that has waited years for this moment.
Across plazas, sidewalks and company gates, their journeys converge into a single shared narrative — one shaped less by geography than by devotion.