SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) — While much of South Korea was painted red in celebration of the national football team's opening victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country's second-largest city turned purple as BTS fans flooded Busan for a two-day concert marking the group's 13th anniversary.
For many ARMY members, the concerts were more than another stop on BTS's world tour. They marked an emotional return to the very venue where the group bid farewell before answering the nation's call for military service four years ago.
Fans arrived from every corner of the globe. Some, however, had barely left South Korea since BTS launched its comeback year with a special event in Seoul in March.
"It feels unreal," said Vuyo Matiwane, 36, from South Africa. "It's been almost three months of waiting, but I'm just as excited as I was for the comeback live event and the first tour concerts in Goyang."
Matiwane chose to remain in South Korea after attending BTS's Gwanghwamun event in March and the group's opening concerts in Goyang in April. She said the wait for Busan had felt endless, making it difficult to believe the anniversary weekend had finally arrived.
Hours before showtime, Busan was already buzzing with anticipation. Fans filled hotels, shopping districts and tourist landmarks as the city prepared for BTS's return.
"The atmosphere in Busan is amazing," Matiwane said. "The city is buzzing with 'ARIRANG.' Every corner is painted in shades of purple and themed around the tour. ARMY from all over the world are here."
Matiwane had also visited Busan for BTS FESTA last year while the members were completing their military service. The experience was memorable despite the group's absence, she said, making this year's anniversary celebrations even more meaningful.
"I'm excited and emotional at the same time," she said. "I think what ARMY means to BTS and what BTS means to ARMY is not a feeling that can easily be put into words."
Asked what she would say to BTS if given the chance, Matiwane delivered a message on behalf of fans in her home country.
"South Africa is eagerly waiting for its turn to have a concert," she said. "Until then, I'll follow you 'Into the Sun.'"
For some fans, even not having a ticket was not enough to keep them away from Busan.
"A lot has changed in my life over the past 13 years, but BTS has been a constant," said Liu, a Singaporean fan in her 30s.
"That's why being in Busan for this anniversary feels emotional."
Moreau, 29, from France, said Busan felt different from any BTS concert experience he had encountered in Europe. "I've attended several BTS concerts, but coming to Busan feels like experiencing the heart of the fandom," he said.
"The excitement throughout the city is unlike anything I've ever seen." Moreau said BTS's music helped him gain confidence when he was younger, making the journey particularly meaningful.
"Looking around the stadium, I see people of every age and background sharing the same joy," he said. "It's proof that music can bring the world together in a very real way."
For Olivia Bennett, 24, from the United Kingdom, visiting South Korea for BTS had long been a dream shared by many international fans. "Busan is full of people from different cultures, yet everyone seems connected through the same music," she said.
Bennett said BTS's messages of hope, self-acceptance and resilience were reflected in the diversity and openness of the fan community.
"I've made friends here from countries I've never even visited before," she added.
Anticipation had also been building online. After a fan-run BTS news account shared a preview video of the stage setup at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, social media quickly filled with messages of excitement.
"Nostalgia is hitting," one fan wrote, recalling BTS's 2022 performance at the same venue before the members began military service.
Another commented: "If the stage lights are half as bright as that renovation, we'll need sunglasses in Busan. Can't wait to see BTS turn a stadium into a concert galaxy."
The Busan concerts come amid the global success of BTS's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," which recently spent a third consecutive week atop the Billboard 200 chart.
For the fans who traveled thousands of kilometers — and for some, waited nearly three months across multiple Korean cities — the weekend represents more than another concert or another chart milestone.
It is a celebration of BTS's 13-year journey and a reminder of the bond that continues to connect millions of fans across generations, cultures and continents.
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