A thousand BTS followers will queue in Seoul on Thursday for a hug from Jin, who’s again to his function as Okay-pop idol after 18 months of navy service.
The three-hour marathon is his first public occasion since being discharged from the military on Wednesday.
The 1,000 who will probably be embraced have been chosen in a raffle – though Jin has mentioned he had prompt hugging as much as 3,000 followers.
“I’m so comfortable now that I’ll meet Jin,” says Ms Park who realized final weekend that she had received a spot in Thursday’s “hugathon”.
“I didn’t count on to win. I couldn’t consider it so all weekend I stored checking again and again,” says the 32-year-old who didn’t want to reveal her first identify.
She mentioned it began to “really feel actual” solely when she began packing to journey to the capital.
Jin, 31, who’s the oldest member of the hit boy band, was drafted in December 2022. He served as an assistant drill teacher at a coaching centre for the South Korean navy, which requires all able-bodied males to serve.
Jin is the primary BTS member to be discharged from obligation. The other six – J-Hope, V, RM, Jimin, Jung Kook and Suga – are still serving and the band is anticipated to reunite solely in June 2025.
However the others took break day on Wednesday to have fun Jin’s return – followers are already agog over photographs of their temporary reunion on Wednesday.
Jin kicked off his return to the music scene with a livestream the place he spoke to followers: “Thanks for ready for me, I like you. I’ll attempt to categorical my emotions tomorrow.”
Thursday’s hugs will probably be adopted by one other occasion, with 3,000 others, the place Jin will carry out songs on request and share messages with followers.
Vanessa Could Leuterio, 25, did not get fortunate within the raffle however she made it to the second spherical – and flew from the Philippines to attend.
“I cried [when I learned the result] since I prayed very exhausting for a successful slot,” she mentioned. “It was undoubtedly exhausting to win because it was me versus 1000’s of ARMYs [BTS fan group] who needed to affix.”
Ms Park, however, is each excited and anxious.
“Hugging a thousand folks for 3 hours is troublesome even when Jin grew to become more healthy within the navy,” she says.
She mentioned many followers needed HYBE, the band’s supervisor which can also be behind the occasion, to ask fewer followers for hugs. Additionally they needed them to vet the attendees.
“Somebody might strategy him pretending to be a fan. We followers are continually anxious for the artist’s well being and security,” Ms Park says.
The occasion additionally drew backlash for its qualification guidelines, which required followers to affix ARMY, which reportedly has greater than 25 million members. Additionally they had to purchase BTS albums on a delegated web site to enter the raffle – the extra albums they purchased, the upper their possibilities of being hugged.
However this brought on an uproar and HYBE was accused of utilizing the occasion to promote unsold albums. The company finally apologised and loosened the standards to permit anybody who had ever bought sure BTS albums.
Jin addressed the controversy in his livestream on Wednesday: “That is one thing that the corporate and I ready in good intention, so please perceive.”
To followers, Jin’s return can also be the start of BTS’ return from a compelled hiatus. However the query trade insiders are asking is whether or not the world’s most well-known boy band will be as profitable after a pause?
“BTS will probably be perceived as older,” says music critic Lim Hee-yun. However he does not suppose that may essentially damage the band’s picture.
“BTS has been energetic for greater than a decade. They won’t entice new, younger followers who will discover them recent, however their present fan base will go along with them. They’re rising previous with the band.”
Followers appear to agree. “I believe that should not be an issue between ARMYs and BTS,” says 20-year-old Samantha, who didn’t win the possibility to hug Jin however will attend the second a part of Thursday’s occasion.
She has been following the band since she was 10 and does not see that altering anytime quickly: “I like their music, not their recognition.”
