BTS fans gather for K-pop supergroup's annual celebration
The septuplet BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while its members separately completed their military service, which is mandatory in the South for all men under 30.
Thousands of fans of the K-pop supergroup have been gathering in Seoul this week, as four members of the band wrapped up their army duties and reentered civilian life.
A final member SUGA, who was doing alternative service for health reasons, is due to be released next week.
The group will also hold its annual FESTA celebration Friday, which marks the anniversary of their debut and attracts thousands of fans, collectively known as ARMY, to South Korea.
The main event is being held in a massive event space in Goyang, just outside of Seoul, with local authorities saying they had set up "photo spots" across the entire city, "turning the whole city into an extended festival stage".
"We warmly welcome ARMY fans from around the world who will be visiting the city," said mayor Lee Dong-hwan.
Fans have also been gathering in Seoul outside the group's agency HYBE's headquarters, which have been wrapped with the slogan "WE ARE BACK".
With the fan frenzy in full swing, a Chinese woman was briefly detained, police said Thursday, for a possible attempted break in at BTS singer Jungkook's luxury apartment in Seoul, just hours after he was released from military service.
- HYBE happy -
The fans may be excited for a reunion, but no one is more thrilled by the pending return to performance of BTS than their agency, HYBE, which stands to see a sharp rebound in earnings.
Before their military service, HYBE's CEO Lee Jae-sang said that the band's contribution to the company's revenue was exactly 95 percent, adding that "as of 2024, it is estimated to be under 20 percent".
But analysts are predicting a surge in profits with the group's return.
"HYBE recorded its first earnings decline during BTS's military service period, but with the group's full return, profits are expected to grow by around 150 percent over the next two years through 2026," said Lee Ki-hoon, an analyst at Hana Securities.
"With BTS resuming a large-scale world tour, HYBE's operating profit is projected to rise 71 percent on-year to 462 billion won ($340 million) next year," Hwang Ji-won from IM Securities told AFP.
The comeback also coincides with signs that China's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture -- imposed in retaliation after Seoul allowed deployment of a US-made THAAD missile defence system -- may be easing under South Korea's new administration.
South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung took office in a snap election last week, promising a more pragmatic diplomacy than his hawkish predecessor.
If so, experts say, with China being a key market for K-pop, concert attendance is expected to soar.
"Considering the scale of the tour that was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the pent-up demand, the group (BTS) is expected to draw at least 3 million concertgoers," added Hwang.
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The septuplet BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while its members separately completed their military service, which is mandatory in the South for all men under 30. Thousands of fans of the K-pop supergroup have been gathering in Seoul this week, as four members of the band wrapped up their mandatory army duties and reentered civilian life, triggering a fan frenzy as the idols vowed to get back to performing. Six of the seven members of the group have now finished military service, with the final member SUGA, who was doing alternative service for health reasons, due to be released next week. The group will also hold its annual FESTA celebration Friday, which marks the anniversary of their debut and attracts thousands of fans, collectively known as ARMY, to South Korea. Its agency HYBE headquarters in Seoul have been wrapped with the slogan "WE ARE BACK". According to authorities, a Chinese woman is accused of pressing the keypad lock at Jungkook luxury apartment in Seoul's Yongsan district around 11:20 pm (1400 GMT) Wednesday. "She told us she wasn't trying to break in, but was curious if someone inside would respond when she pressed the keypad," an official from the Yongsan Police Station told AFP. "She was released this morning," the official added. A final decision has not yet been made on how the "case will be handled legally", he said. 'Don't come to my home' Jungkook has long struggled with stalkers and has repeatedly urged fans to respect his privacy. In one instance, fans attempted to send food deliveries to his home. In a livestream last year, he also expressed concern after finding YouTube videos detailing his move and new house. "Now that I've moved, I just hope people don't come to my home," he pleaded. "I'm asking you, please." Jungkook and fellow band member Jimin spent 18 months on the frontline with North Korea serving in the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade. They were greeted by screaming fans and crowds of journalists after they left their base for discharge, still dressed in camouflage military uniforms. "It's been a while since I've been in front of a camera, and I'm a bit embarrassed because I didn't even put on makeup," said Jungkook Wednesday, looking slightly flustered at the mass gathering. The pair bowed to fans and media before getting into a black minivan and driving off, with Jungkook's apparent attempted break in coming just hours later.
