On Saturday, the heart of Seoul turned into a sea of purple.
It was splashed across landmarks, towering billboards, giant screens on high-rises, posters, masks and t-shirts. It was in the display of drone lights on the Han River.
The reason for it was impossible to miss.
“Welcome back BTS,” a banner on a 7-Eleven declared, surrounded by the K-pop act’s signature colour. The world’s biggest band was returning to the stage – after a break of more than three years because of mandatory military service.
“BTS is everything for us,” says Veronica, who along with her friend Amanda flew in from the US to catch Saturday’s show.
The concert was yet to begin. Members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook had not made an appearance, but already, BTS was everywhere.
The megastars of pop were back.
And their “Army”, as their legions of fans call themselves, was ready – happy, singing, screaming, light-sticks in hand. These props can be seen at every K-pop concert but the big bands have their own.
Amanda and Veronica had them too. They wore wide grins and matching purple hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.
The band’s break is what made them seek out other members of the Army. “That’s how we met,” Amanda says.
But it had been a difficult three years, they added, spent yearning for the band to come back.
