Flyers promoting the BTS comeback concert watch parties in cities across the U.S. are shared on social media. Captured from Instagram
SEATTLE — As BTS prepares to take the stage in Seoul, excitement is building worldwide, and at the same time FOMO — the fear of missing out — is setting in for fans unable to attend.
The free concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday is expected to draw a massive crowd, with hundreds of thousands gathering in and around the venue. The event will also be livestreamed globally, allowing fans across time zones to watch in real time and follow along through social media.
For many overseas fans, attending in person is not a realistic option. The cost of international flights and accommodation, combined with work and school schedules, has put the trip out of reach, even for those who have followed the group for years.
Online forums have become a space where fans are openly weighing those limitations. On Reddit, one user summed up the situation succinctly: “Netflix at home?” reflecting a choice many international fans face.
Others expressed a mix of excitement and frustration at watching from afar. “I wish I could be there,” one user wrote. Another added, “I’ll be watching live, but it’s not the same as being there.”
“I should’ve gone to Korea … seeing all the events they planned is giving me mad FOMO,” another regretted.
Some said the scale of the event has only heightened that feeling. “This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime shows,” a commenter noted, adding that missing it in person made the livestream feel both meaningful and bittersweet.
Many described a more practical calculation. The decision is less about desire than feasibility. Traveling across continents for a single concert, even one of this scale, is difficult to justify on short notice. “I wish I could go, but flights alone are crazy right now,” one user wrote in a separate discussion thread, reflecting a common sentiment among international fans.
Still, for many fans, watching from afar is more than enough.
In cities including Los Angeles and New York, cafes, boba tea shops and restaurants are hosting BTS watch parties, offering fans an alternative way to gather and experience the concert together.
Some fans say the livestream on Netflix has reshaped how they experience major events, allowing them to follow the concert live while engaging with other fans online. Posts across forums show users planning watch parties, sharing viewing times and preparing to tune in together despite being in different locations.
“I can’t be there, but I’ll still be watching with everyone,” one fan wrote, reflecting how many plans to experience the concert in real time.
“I cleaned my place because I felt it would be disrespectful to livestream BTS if my apartment is dirty,” another fan commented. “I put out all of my BTS stuff on the mantle. I’ve worn a BTS shirt every day this week to work. I’m thinking of picking up some flowers and a small cake to celebrate.”
Others said watching live allows them to stay connected to the event as it unfolds.