A wave of emotion, joy, and purple pride swept across Goyang last weekend as thousands of BTS fans gathered for the annual BTS Festa, marking not only the group’s 11th anniversary—but also celebrating a long-awaited moment: the end of their military hiatus.
Among the crowd was Stephanie Prado, a devoted ARMY member who moved all the way from Brazil to South Korea, inspired by her love for BTS. Holding her ARMY bomb—the official BTS lightstick—and beaming in front of a towering sculpture modeled after it, she described the past two-and-a-half years as “both slowly and really quickly.”
“It’s been such a long wait,” she said, “but they’re finally coming back.”
The Final Countdown
Four of the seven BTS members—RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook—were discharged from their mandatory military service last week, triggering waves of celebration across fan communities worldwide. The last remaining member, Suga, is set to be discharged this Saturday, officially reuniting the band after a hiatus that began in 2022.
For fans like Stephanie, the reunion is more than just a return to music—it’s a deeply emotional, even spiritual experience.
“I hope they rest now,” she said, her voice softening. “But of course, I also want albums, concerts, everything.”
A Changed Industry Awaits
BTS’s break from the spotlight left a noticeable vacuum in the K-pop world. According to Kim Young-dae, music critic and author of BTS: The Review, the group’s absence destabilized the industry’s momentum.
“Without BTS, a core pillar was missing,” Kim said. “There have been concerns that K-pop is losing its edge. True or not, BTS’s return could absolutely shift that perception.”
The band’s comeback comes at a time when the K-pop industry is grappling with slower album sales, public scrutiny, and mental health pressures on idols. But many believe BTS still holds the power to uplift the scene—and perhaps redefine it.
An ARMY on the Move
At the BTS Festa, fans from across the globe waited in long, winding queues before the gates even opened. Inside, interactive exhibits—including the “voice zone” where fans could listen to personal messages from BTS—prompted everything from joyful hopping to uncontrollable sobbing.
“I cried at every BTS location I visited,” said Vuyo Matiwane, who traveled from South Africa and had been on a pilgrimage to BTS landmarks around Seoul. “It was overwhelming to see the livestream of their discharge. It’s like a dream.”
Fara Ala, who flew in from the Netherlands, echoed the sentiment. “Breathing the same air, drinking the same water, eating the same food as BTS—that’s enough for ARMY,” she said. “If you ask other ARMY, they’d say the same.”
What’s Next?
While there are no official plans yet for all seven members to appear together, speculation is swirling about an upcoming group project, with hopes for a comeback album and a possible world tour.
For now, the global ARMY is simply reveling in the joy of reunion—and preparing for what they hope will be BTS’s most iconic chapter yet.
