From Loving BTS Alone to Fangirling in Seoul

One of the main reasons I chose to study abroad in Korea was because of BTS. While they are now the best-known K-pop group in the world, I was first introduced to them in 2015, when I was only ten years old. At the time, I completely fell in love with Min Yoongi with his mint green hair, and from that moment on, BTS became a huge part of my life. I became obsessed with them and promised myself that one day I would go to Korea.

That dream eventually shaped real decisions in my life. One of the reasons I chose my university was because it gave me the opportunity to study Korean and eventually live in South Korea through CIEE. Of course, as I grew older and gained more responsibilities, my obsession with BTS faded a little. They were still important to me, but they were no longer the center of my everyday life in the same way they had been when I was younger.

However, that changed completely in March, when the “Arirang” comeback events took place in Seoul. Suddenly, all of those feelings came rushing back. My twelve-year-old self could never have imagined that I would actually be in Korea during such an important BTS-related moment, so I knew I had to take full advantage of it.

Since these were my first few weeks in Korea, I had not yet met many people and was adjusting to living in a new country. But in a way, BTS helped me find my community. I started looking for other ARMYs who wanted to attend the pop-ups and events together, and through that, I ended up meeting some of my closest friends from study abroad.

I did some of the craziest things because of my love for BTS. On the day of their comeback event, I did not have a free ticket, but my friends and I were determined to see them. We waited for twelve hours near the event area in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, hoping to get as close as possible. Somehow, through pure determination, we managed to find a spot where we could see them live.

It became one of the best experiences of my life. It was the first time I had ever seen BTS in person, and in that moment, it felt like years of dreaming had finally become real. What started as a childhood obsession had somehow brought me to Korea, helped me learn the language, pushed me to study abroad, and even led me to some of the most meaningful friendships I made during my time here.

I was screaming my head off the entire time, and somehow, I even ended up on SBS News’ Instagram. In that moment, I felt so much love from BTS and from the ARMY community around me. There were so many free pop-ups and events that made the comeback feel like a city-wide celebration. My favorites were the drone show, the Arirang Playground, and the pop-up shop.

Growing up, I was always the only person around me who liked BTS, so this was the first time I ever got to fangirl about them openly in public. It was not just about seeing them; it was about finally being surrounded by people who understood the same excitement, love, and emotional connection I had carried for years. For the first time, I was able to experience a BTS comeback to its fullest.

That week brought me fully back into the ARMY fandom. I started catching up on everything I had missed during the time I had stepped away, and seeing them on stage reignited something in me. Hearing “Mikrokosmos” live gave me a rush I will never forget. It reminded me why BTS had meant so much to me in the first place, and why they had played such a big role in bringing me to Korea.

My biggest takeaway from the comeback was internal growth and how much I've changed since BTS entered the military back in 2022. However, just like I've grown, BTS has grown as well. I had to take a step back and realized I'm am now the age of the BTS members were when I discovered them, and that made me respect them on a more fundamental level. I couldn't imagine the pressure of being the K-pop group tasked with paving the way for everyone, being in their early 20s, and having to work hard for years on tours, making music, and keeping fans happy. This comeback will hold a special place in my heart knowing I accomplished a dream I never belived to be possible.