BTS poses in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, where the band filmed a performance for the “BTS Week” special on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in this 2020 file photo. Courtesy of BigHit Music
On the first day of the year, thousands of BTS fans around the world received a letter. It was a postcard with New Year’s messages from the seven members of K-pop’s biggest band. Printed just behind the paper, in an eye-catching shade of red, were three dots and a date — “2026.03.20.”
The delivery was enough to send an estimated 78 million of BTS’ most ardent followers into chaos. Thousands of posts circulated online, all speculating about the meaning behind the message. Even international news outlets like CNN joined in on the conversation.
Joyce Wong, a 43-year-old marketer from Hong Kong, who has been part of the BTS fandom — known as ARMY —for seven years, was among the lucky ones who received the coveted letter, which first revealed the date of the group’s highly anticipated comeback. The letter was sent to fans of the band who subscribed to a membership service within a set period of time.
Upon hearing the news, Wong immediately got to work. She booked her flights to Seoul for March, chose a hotel in the tourist district of Myeong-dong and was set for the experience of a lifetime.
Letter received by fans of BTS / Captured from @amabile_suga on X (formerly Twitter)
The K-pop legends have regularly made news headlines since all members — RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — completed mandatory military service in June 2025. Reports surrounding the band’s long-awaited comeback were kept tightly under wraps, keeping fans on their toes.
Then, in January, more information about the band’s new album came to light. Called “Arirang,” it will kick off with a large-scale live performance at Seoul’s most iconic landmark, Gwanghwamun Square, on March 21, one day after the album drops.
The show will be broadcast live to over 190 countries and 300 million subscribers of global streaming platform Netflix, with British director Hamish Hamilton at the helm. Hamilton is known for his work on the Super Bowl halftime shows, most recently working with Latin superstar Bad Bunny for his record-breaking performance this month.
“I want to be part of history and see them for the first time as a group on stage in front of this historical location,” Wong said. “[That’s] why I made plans to attend, despite not securing tickets to the comeback stage yet.”
While BTS has announced a massive world tour, with 82 shows across 23 countries, the Gwanghwamun Square show marks the band’s first full-group activity since a hiatus began four years ago for the group’s members to complete their mandatory service in Korea’s military.
BTS as family affair
Like Wong, many ARMY members are determined to witness the band’s return to the stage.
When BTS first teased a spring 2026 comeback last June, 28-year-old Aimi Fariha immediately booked a flight to Seoul. Fariha, from Malaysia, is also set to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Korea, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast daily from sunrise until sunset.
“I’m bringing my whole family to Korea to celebrate Eid together, making it so much fun to enjoy both the Eid celebration and the BTS’ ‘Arirang’ comeback show at the same time,” she said.
Fans enjoy the 2025 BTS Festa at the KINTEX convention center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, June 13, 2025. Yonhap
She also plans to attend “BTS The City Arirang Seoul” activities, which are running from March 20 to April 12, in line with the band’s album release and world tour kickoff on April 9.
“During my visit, I plan to [go to] iconic BTS spots and soak in the vibrant, electrifying atmosphere of a Seoul full of the BTS ‘Arirang’ theme,” Fariha added.
The 23-day program will turn Seoul into an immersive playground for BTS fans, combining music, media art and urban installations.
“Being there, surrounded by ARMY and experiencing BTS’ return firsthand is something I will never forget,” Fariha shared.
For 21-year-old student Eleri Williams of the United Kingdom, flying halfway across the world for BTS was an easy decision. The 14-hour flight from Wales to Seoul was already muscle memory, as this is her 10th trip to Korea, each time for BTS. This time, she plans to spend more than two months in the country, dividing her stay between Seoul and Busan.
“My Mum and I had a long-standing agreement that we would make it to Seoul for the comeback, as it is such a significant event for both BTS and ARMY,” Williams said in a written interview.
“Once the comeback and tour dates were announced, we altered our flights so that we land on March 20 and [can] remain in Korea until just after the Busan [concert] dates [in June], which fall during Festa,” Williams added. BTS Festa is the annual celebration of the band’s anniversary on June 13.
Jori Pamintuan, a 34-year-old development communications worker from the Philippines, is also turning the BTS comeback into a family affair.
“My parents are both ARMY, so when the comeback was finally confirmed, they realized I had planned our [family] trip around it even when there were only rumors,” Pamintuan shared.
When she first booked her family’s trip to Seoul back in November, the comeback date had not yet been confirmed, so Pamintuan had to roll the dice with the dates. Thankfully, luck was on her side.
“I’m so happy to just be there at Gwanghwamun, even if I’ll just be around the area — but of course, I’m still hoping to be able to score tickets for my parents and me,” she added.
Friendship forged
Pamintuan now plans around three annual trips for BTS-related activities. She recounts stories of waiting in subfreezing temperatures just to enjoy a concert livestream with fellow fans outside the venue of one of the member’s solo concerts, screaming and singing along to every song.
She was even present during BTS’ last concert as a full group in Busan in 2022. “I met so many ARMY there from every corner of the world — Egypt, Mexico, Italy, Australia and so many other places — and most of them didn’t even have tickets. They just wanted to be there, to show their support,” Pamintuan added.
Fans of BTS take pictures of handwritten notes as they visit a BTS pop-up store in Los Angeles, in this 2022 file photo. AFP-Yonhap
Williams also recounted meeting her best friend at the same concert.
“To this day, I say that she is the best gift I’ve received because of BTS, as had it not been for that concert, we most likely would never have met and made the countless memories we share together today,” she said.
The upcoming BTS comeback is not just an opportunity for ARMY members to watch the popular K-pop group, but also serves as a meeting point for fans to connect.
Experiential activities, such as the planned large-scale media facade for “Arirang” at major landmarks in Seoul, including Sungnyemun Gate and N Seoul Tower, create opportunities for fans to go on pilgrimages and explore Korean heritage. A lounge will also be opened at Yeouido Han River Park on March 22, allowing fans to enjoy BTS’ music together.
“I think it is amazing how, even though so many of us don’t speak the same language, we can always reach a mutual and shared understanding through our love for BTS and their music,” Williams added.
Power of ARMY
While the world watches BTS, the band’s fandom, ARMY, has also made a name for itself as a formidable force in today’s pop culture sphere. The K-pop group’s global popularity has always been partly attributed to its dedicated fans, who come from diverse backgrounds.
The fan base is known for its community endeavors, fundraising for environmental and socio political movements, along with its economic impact.
BTS performs “Dynamite” at its “Yet To Come in Busan” concert at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium in this 2022 file photo. Courtesy of BigHit Music
A 2024 Bread Financial report says a single concert ticket generates more than three times its value in local economic activity. However, Michael Mariano, head of economic development at Tourism Economics told British newspaper The Guardian, that BTS “will well surpass these numbers.”
With the slew of activities planned for BTS this year, the best may yet be to come. While mystery continues to surround the music and concept for “Arirang,” fans trust that the album will be a refreshing reminder of why they’re willing to fly thousands of miles for the band.
“There is always a sense of growth in their artistry and storytelling which makes each era feel fresh, emotional and deeply meaningful for ARMY,” Fariha said.
“[BTS are] uplifting their culture and heritage [through this comeback], while also highlighting that music is a universal language,” Pamintuan also added.
With an estimated crowd of 260,000 set to converge in Gwanghwamun Square for BTS’ historic performance, many ARMY members are looking forward to enjoying the festive atmosphere, while also celebrating the comeback of BTS.
“It feels incredibly meaningful and honestly surreal as a long-time ARMY,” Fariha, who’s been a fan for almost a decade, said. “Seeing BTS perform at Gwanghwamun with such a historic and cultural landmark feels like watching history being made.”