SEOUL, South Korea: The timing of Jin’s discharge from South Korean military service was perfect for BTS ARMY members, as tens of thousands of fans flocked to Seoul for the group’s annual BTS FESTA just 24 hours later.
The event, organized by HYBE, the band’s agency, took place at a sports complex in southern Seoul and was expected to surpass last year’s record attendance of 400,000.
Jin, the oldest member of BTS, added a personal touch to the celebrations by hosting a “huggathon” for 1,000 lucky raffle winners, offering free hugs at a nearby location. Fans began lining up as early as 7:00 am, forming lines up to three kilometers long to get their hands on exclusive BTS merchandise and photo cards of their idols.
Since 2022, BTS has been on a hiatus due to the mandatory military service required for all South Korean men under 30. Jin, the first member to be discharged, expressed his enthusiasm for the “huggathon” on the South Korean app Weverse, stating that he initially wanted to hug 3,000 fans but had to scale back for safety reasons.
BTS fans from around the world attended the FESTA, including 48-year-old Lisa Pavelchack from Ohio, who flew to Seoul with friends she met at a BTS concert in the United States. Nineteen-year-old Ann Suwanan from Thailand expressed her disappointment at not getting to hug Jin, but she was overjoyed by his return, wearing a purple dress and bow in celebration.
Hector Sosa, a 40-year-old father from Mexico, traveled to Seoul with his daughter, a dedicated BTS fan, to celebrate her birthday. Despite landing in South Korea at 5:00 am, they headed straight to the FESTA, underscoring the global dedication of the BTS ARMY.
