Sweet Tappan, a BTS fan, poses with an ecobag made by one of her patients while visiting a BTS pop-up store in Seoul, Korea, Friday, one day before the band’s comeback concert in Gwanghwamun. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Nobody knew how long fans would have to wait for BTS’ comeback. Filipino BTS fan Sweet Tappan is one of thousands who waited patiently for the seven-member megagroup’s return and will finally see them perform at Gwanghwamun on Saturday, following the release of their full-length album “ARIRANG” on Friday.
“They really promised to come back. We waited a long time for this so we’re really excited,” Tappan told The Korea Times on Friday.
She took a red-eye flight from Manila on Thursday night and arrived Friday morning, when she met with The Korea Times to visit sites included in the “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG” program, which allows fans to enjoy promotional events for BTS’ new album while touring historic locations in Seoul. Dressed from head to toe in red, the color of the new album, Tappan already has a packed schedule: On Friday she visited Love Song Lounge, Shinsegae Department Store’s The Heritage, and saw a light show at Sungnyemun, one of Seoul’s historic gates, and a drone show at Ttukseom Hangang Park — things she would never do back home in the Philippines, where she is busy working as a medical doctor.
At home, the endocrinologist would normally take a car even for short distances and would never queue for anything. But when it comes to BTS, she becomes a different person.
Sweet Tappan, a BTS fan, poses at BTS Pop-up: ARIRANG in Seoul, Korea, Friday, one day before the band’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
“BTS brings out the good side in me. I am impatient but they make me patient. I don’t like walking around but they make me walk and fall in line,” she said.
The group came into her life when she was at a low point in 2017, during her fellowship program. On paper, everything looked good: She was a successful medical doctor helping others, doing what she had always wanted to and trained for over many years.
“I’m supposed to be happy, taking care of other people … I wasn’t happy.”
Feeling trapped in her routine and searching for purpose, she stumbled on BTS’ videos on YouTube and gradually fell in love with the group — first with their personalities and good looks, and later with their talent, music and humor.
As she immersed herself in BTS content, she slowly felt energized and gained the strength to keep up with daily life. “They gave me hope and then they made me happy.”
The most meaningful part of having BTS in her life, she says, is the “Love Yourself” campaign. The album and its message gave her tremendous strength and taught her to love herself, a key life lesson.
“BTS, they helped me love myself. So in order for me to be able to love others, I have to love myself first.”
BTS fan Sweet Tappan poses at BTS Pop-up: ARIRANG in Seoul, Korea, Friday, one day before the band’s comeback performance. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Beyond learning to love herself, BTS — her personal “dopamine booster” — has helped her manage daily tasks, care for her patients and appreciate life more.
She had never been lucky with concert tickets, but this time she managed to secure a spot at the Gwanghwamun concert and will be enjoying the show in the standing section. She plans to wear a custom-made traditional Korean dress, called hanbok, featuring her friend’s drawings of BTS members’ faces.
“That’s why I work hard to pay the bills,” she laughed.
Describing herself as loyal, she says she will continue to love them as if they were her family.
“I feel like I also grew up with them. It’s like there’s a long-lost relative or something like that. So you don’t stop loving your family. I guess there are probably different levels of love.”