"I missed them so much," says Stephanie Prado, a die-hard BTS fan who has been desperately waiting for the group to reunite after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus.
Her love for the boy band inspired her to move from Brazil to South Korea – so it was no surprise she turned up last Friday for "BTS Festa", an annual party near Seoul on the group’s anniversary.
The time she has spent waiting has moved "both slowly and really quickly", Stephanie says, waving an ARMY bomb, the official BTS fan lightstick. Behind her is a giant sculpture of the lightstick, a must-have in K-pop culture.
This year’s event is special: a reunion is near. The countdown peaked last week as four members – RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook – completed their military service. The wait ends Saturday with Suga’s discharge.
"I hope they rest now," Stephanie says, adding, "but of course I also want albums, concerts, everything."
Mandatory military service for South Korean men paused BTS activities in 2022. Now, they return to a changed industry—marked by stalled album sales, scandals, and scrutiny over harsh conditions for stars.
"Without BTS, a core pillar was missing," says Kim Young-dae, music critic and author of BTS: The Review. "There have been concerns recently that K-pop is losing momentum. True or not, BTS could change that perception."
The ARMY awaits
There are no full-group appearances planned yet, but the ARMY gathered early in Goyang. The line stretched to the subway station, filled with fans speaking multiple languages.
Inside the event, some fans cried while listening to BTS members’ messages in the “voice zone.”
"It felt like the 18 months lasted forever," said Vuyo Matiwane from South Africa, who visited BTS-themed spots in Seoul. "I was crying at every location – it was so emotional."
Fara Ala, from the Netherlands, says it was all worth it: "Breathing the same air, drinking the same water, eating the same food as BTS – that's enough for ARMY."
Can they recreate their success after a break?
South Korean military service has ended many celebrity careers. BTS staggered enlistments so all members weren’t absent at once. J-Hope, discharged last October, has already wrapped a solo tour. Still, the industry moves fast.
"Some still like third generation groups, but for teens, BTS kind of feels like they belong to an older generation," says a 13-year-old fan of IVE. "A lot of new idols debuted while BTS was away, and they have become popular."
But Kim believes BTS can break the "curse." Their solo projects during hiatus kept fans engaged: "It feels like their military hiatus passed by naturally. Their return feels smooth."
The shift in K-pop
While BTS was on break, Blackpink didn’t release a group album since September 2022, focusing on solo projects. Fourth and fifth-generation groups have since brought new styles, making K-pop more diverse, but with no clear standout like BTS.
K-pop has also faced a slowdown. Though concert revenues remain strong, album sales peaked in 2023 and have declined. Controversies – including internal disputes, agency misconduct, and online harassment – have also surfaced.
"Album sales started to drop, and some problems – like questions about companies doing the right thing – came up," says pop culture critic Park Hee Ah. She believes BTS' return could restore focus: "Their return will help people focus on Korea’s music scene again."
All eyes are on BTS’ next move.
"I will quickly make an album and return to the stage," RM said after his discharge.
However, a group album may not arrive until early next year. J-Hope and Jin have concert plans, and Suga may lie low after a drunk-driving incident.
Still, for fans like Stephanie, the reunion is enough for now:
"It’ll feel like nothing ever changed. The kings are back."
Courtesy: BBC
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
