Fans of K-pop megastars BTS yesterday flocked to hotspots around Seoul to mark the supergroup’s 10-year anniversary, with South Korea unveiling a special commemorative stamp series to celebrate.
The group’s fans — known collectively as ARMY — gathered outside the offices of its agency HYBE to take selfies and record TikTok videos in front of a huge mural of the stars being painted on a wall.
Korea Post unveiled a special edition series of stamps in BTS’ honor set to go on sale at post offices today — the official anniversary of the septet’s debut — having already sold out almost instantly online.
Photo: AFP
“Obviously, BTS are global superstars, but we didn’t expect the stamps to be sold out on the day of the online release,” a Korea Post official said.
After debuting on June 13, 2013, the group went on to become the first all-South Korean act to dominate the US and UK charts, raking in billions of dollars and building a global fandom in the process.
“Many ARMY BTS fans have asked for the release of BTS stamps, and we also wanted to issue stamps for these global artists for their 10th anniversary,” Korea Post stamp designer Kim Mi-hwa said.
The band — on a hiatus, with two members performing their mandatory South Korean military service — released a new digital single last week to celebrate the 10-year anniversary.
The single, Take Two, is purportedly a nod to the band’s second chapter after a decade as musicians.
Fans from around the world traveled to South Korea to celebrate the anniversary, with the Seoul City Government running a special program for the visitors.
“It’s thrilling to be here. It’s thrilling to be surrounded by other ARMY,” said scientist Anne Micic, 55, a BTS fan from Australia.
“I think that’s the other thing, that as an ARMY when you meet other ARMY it’s almost like you have another family, which is really awesome,” she said.
A special map released by the city government for fans visiting from abroad features 13 locations across the South Korean capital.
It includes agency HYBE’s office in Yongsan and the historic Gyeongbok Palace, where BTS filmed a special edition of the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Fans said it was worth traveling so far to honor their favorite band.
BTS “really saved my life,” said Claudia Agustin, 23, a fan from Indonesia who works in accounting, adding that their lyrics had spoken to her during difficult periods of her life.
She said that she was “really, really proud” of the group’s 10-year anniversary.
“I know how they’ve been struggling from back in their debut days and then they really make it big. Now everyone really knows them,” she said.
Starting yesterday, tourist spots across Seoul, including the Namsan Seoul Tower and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, were to be lit up in purple — ARMY’s color — in celebration of the anniversary.
BTS members who are not doing their military service yet have been busy with their solo careers — with Jimin releasing his six-track solo album Face in March.
It is likely part of a carefully planned strategy, experts said.
“The most significant part of BTS’ 10th anniversary is that they’re still here and together as BTS,” Billboard K-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin said. “Every male K-pop group will need to pause or transition due to South Korea’s mandatory military service, but not every group is adequately prepared as BTS has with preplanned music and content that holds significant meaning. Even the new song itself, Take Two, speaks specifically to this new chapter of BTS with their fans.”
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