BTS Festa 2025: Celebrating 12 Years of BTS with Global Fans

On June 13, 2025, fans gathered at KINTEX in Goyang, South Korea, waving their iconic light sticks known as 'ARMY Bombs' to celebrate BTS's 12th debut anniversary. Despite the sweltering heat in the morning and unpredictable rain in the afternoon, the enthusiasm of the ARMY remained unwavering throughout the day.

Among the attendees was 26-year-old Allison from France, who proudly displayed her calendar app filled with BTS photos, stating, "I calculate the members' discharge dates every day." Her friend Stella, also from France, shared her journey of traveling 20 hours from Germany to Seoul, expressing, "Life without BTS for the past two years has been boring. Now it feels alive again."

The event, known as 'BTS Festa,' commemorates the group's debut on June 13, 2013, and runs until June 14. Fans from around the world flock to Korea for this annual celebration, which this year holds special significance as it marks the end of the members' military service. Jin and J-Hope completed their service last year, while RM and V finished on June 10, and Jungkook and Jimin followed on June 11. Additionally, Suga, who is currently serving alternative duty, will be discharged on June 21. During the festival, J-Hope is set to hold a solo concert for 54,000 fans over two days, drawing an estimated 100,000 international ARMY members to the Goyang area.

The first day of the exhibition saw fierce competition among fans eager to enter the venue and grab exclusive merchandise. Although the doors opened at 10 AM, long lines formed well before, with some fans waiting for hours. Christine Mathieu, a 47-year-old French woman waiting in line with her teenage twin daughters, expressed her excitement, saying, "I’ve been waiting for two hours to get in. I’m just so happy about BTS's return. I want to tell the members that we will always support them."

Among the 20 exhibition booths set up in two halls, the 'Capsule Album Zone,' where fans could draw photo cards of the members, was particularly popular. Other attractions included the 'Voice Zone,' where fans could listen to recorded messages from the members, and the 'Trophy Zone,' showcasing over 50 awards BTS has won. Tiffany Ren, a 21-year-old fan from China, clutched her newly drawn photo cards and said, "Listening to BTS's lyrics makes me want to be a better person. I want to thank the members for coming back and tell them I’m proud of them."

Outside the exhibition, large sculptures symbolizing BTS attracted fans from various countries, including the USA, Australia, the UK, and Brazil, who took photos with their national flags. Fans from Muslim countries showcased hijabs adorned in BTS's signature purple. Noriko Gamada, a 63-year-old fan from Japan, expressed her joy at the members' return, saying, "Hearing about their discharge filled my heart. Their return gives us energy."

All BTS members made a surprise appearance at J-Hope's concert, expressing their gratitude to the fans. Initially, J-Hope was set to perform his solo track 'Killin’ It Girl,' but he was joined on stage by Jin and Jungkook for a surprise performance of collaborative songs like 'I Wonder...' and 'Spring Day.' Jungkook, who performed just two days after his discharge, emotionally remarked, "I can’t believe I’m really here. I missed everyone so much." While Jimin, RM, V, and Suga did not perform, they cheered from the audience. RM, the group leader, shared a heartfelt message on the fan platform Weverse just before the festival began, saying, "I want to venture into tomorrow like Huckleberry Finn, cutting through all the bushes. We will do our best again. Thank you for this opportunity."

International media also highlighted the members' return and the gathering of fans. Reuters reported on the economic impact of BTS Festa, stating, "The BTS economic effect has already begun." The New York Times compared the fans' long wait for BTS's return to the moment when Elvis Presley was discharged from military service in Germany in 1960.