"We Grew Up with Them" Global ARMYs Share Stories at BTS’s 13th Anniversary

BUSAN — During BTS's 13th anniversary weekend, it was almost impossible to walk through Busan without spotting ARMY.

Fans carrying BTS merchandise filled subway stations, crowded streets and hotel lobbies across the city. Purple outfits, photo cards and ARMY Bombs appeared around nearly every corner, turning Busan into a citywide celebration. Throughout the week, it felt as though the entire city had come together to mark the group's milestone.

Outside Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday, ARMY gathered from every corner of the world for BTS WORLD TOUR "ARIRANG" IN BUSAN. Some traveled from neighboring Asian countries, while others crossed oceans from North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. While the concerts marked BTS's long-awaited return to Busan, they also became a reunion for fans whose lives have been intertwined with the group for years.

Among them was Crissy Bulligan, a 41-year-old project manager from Manila who traveled from the Philippines specifically for the concert. Looking around the venue, she was struck by just how international the crowd had become.

"I even met an ARMY who traveled from Mexico just for the concert," she said. "I think there are more international ARMY here than people realize.

Bulligan first discovered BTS in 2017. At the time, she primarily listened to EDM music and only knew the group casually through songs such as "Not Today." What transformed her from a casual listener into a dedicated fan was not initially the music but the members themselves.

"They won me over with their personalities," she said, recalling how watching the variety series "Run BTS" led her to explore the group's entire discography. "They were hilarious."

As she explored more of BTS's discography, Bulligan became impressed by the group's musical range, from hip-hop and R&B to pop and alternative sounds. For her, the 13-year milestone is significant not simply because BTS has remained together, but because the group has sustained a level of global popularity and fan loyalty that few acts ever achieve.

"A lot of groups celebrate more than 13 years," she said. "But to maintain this kind of popularity and this kind of fandom, that's different."

Her story was far from unique. A pair of fans from Malaysia, Ida and Paraa, attended both nights of the Busan concerts. For Ida, who has spent roughly 12 years supporting BTS, the event carried special emotional weight. Paraa, meanwhile, was attending her first BTS concert despite following the group for years.

"It's my first BTS concert," Paraa said. "I've been stanning them for a long time, so it's very emotional."

She recalled discovering BTS at age 17 while preparing for a major exam in her home country. A friend introduced her to the group through the music video for "No More Dream." More than a decade later, she is now in her 30s.

"I've been growing up with them too," she said.

That feeling surfaced repeatedly throughout conversations with fans. Joel, a teacher originally from Texas who now lives in Korea, traced her journey back to BTS's 2014 single "Just One Day."

"I got into BTS when 'Just One Day' was released on YouTube," she said. "It was a long, long time ago."

Another fan from Chicago, Em, who now also lives in Korea, began following the group during the "Dope" era in 2015. Looking back on BTS's career, she said she remains excited to see how the members continue to evolve as artists.

"They've broken the curse," she said, referring to the long-standing belief that boy groups struggle to maintain longevity. "I'm really excited to see what comes up next."

The variety of stories reflected BTS's broad global reach. Lisel, originally from South Africa, first became aware of BTS through the group's breakthrough appearance at the Billboard Music Awards. Agata, a 39-year-old fan from Poland, discovered BTS through a Samsung commercial featuring "Dynamite" during the pandemic. What began as curiosity eventually grew into a passion for Korean culture and repeated visits to the country.

"This is actually my seventh trip now," Agata said. "I'm really happy that I can take part in this Festa full of joy, happiness and love."

For many fans, BTS's influence extended far beyond music. Catherine, an American fan who now works at an international school in Korea, said BTS helped create friendships that crossed continents.

"Through BTS we connected on a trip," she said. "That's how a Polish person, an American person and an Australian became friends."

The friendships eventually became strong enough to influence major life decisions.

"I love the camaraderie and the kindness that the fanbase shows," she said. "It actually kind of spurred me to move here."

Australian fan Shandra shared a similar experience. After discovering BTS through "Run BTS," she found herself drawn not only to the group's music but also to the community that formed around it.

"Seeing how many international fans are here is inspiring," she said. "It's really lovely to see."

The seven members who debuted in 2013 have built a fandom that stretches far beyond Korea. Some fans discovered BTS through the group's early releases, while others joined during the "Dynamite" era. Some have spent more than a decade with BTS, while others were seeing the group live for the very first time.

Yet this weekend, they all ended up in the same place. For a few days, Busan became a gathering point for fans from around the world, each carrying their own story of how BTS became part of their lives.