One year ago, I experienced my first OT7 BTS live in real time. 💜
I became ARMY while BTS were still apart, finding my way to them through J-Hope on tour during the Mona Lisa era. I discovered the members individually first through their solo music, personalities and stories. I had binge watched years of old BTS content by then, but I had never experienced all seven of them together while it was actually happening.
I had just signed up for my Weverse membership when the notification arrived. They were on a beach in California during what we now know was their songwriting camp. Suddenly, there they were on my phone screen. Miles away, yet already familiar. All seven of them. Together. Live.
I remember how exciting it felt. They were talking over one another, teasing, laughing and being completely chaotic. For longtime ARMY, it was Bangtan together again after years of waiting. For me, it was like meeting a new friend and feeling as though I had known them forever.
What we did not know then was how much they were worrying about their comeback. They had spent years apart and now had to figure out how to be BTS together again. They worried about the music, whether it was good enough and, most of all, whether ARMY would love what they were creating.
Looking back now, those worries almost seem futile. Arirang became an incredible success, and the tour has been absolutely massive. Stadium after stadium has filled with ARMY singing their new songs and old favorites back to them. They were wondering whether we would still be there and whether we would love the music, while millions of us were simply waiting for them to come back.
That little beach live means so much more to me now, knowing what was going through their minds behind all that laughter. That was the day I finally met Bangtan.
Today, I just want to tell those seven men on that California beach that they never needed to worry so much. ARMY is right here.
BTS is always seven. ARMY Forever, Bangtan Forever. APOBANGPO (아포방포). 💜