[With ARMY ②] How Madrid Fans Found Healing Through BTS

This story is part of the With ARMY series, in which K-POPIT meets BTS fans across Spain.

On the Friday of BTS's Madrid concert, a line had already formed outside a quiet alley in the Spanish capital. The crowd was waiting for Sarangbang, a Korean restaurant that has become a small landmark for fans in the city. Many had come for lunch before heading to the venue that night.

Mari, 32, from Ecuador, stood in line with friends. "V came here, so I wanted to try the food," she said. "This place is really well known among ARMY. It's my first time eating Korean food, and I already know what I'm getting. I want to try bibimbap."

Mari said BTS taught her how to love herself. "BTS changed a lot of things in my life. It helped me with my depression. Loving yourself is really important, and they had a positive impact on the way I see myself," she said.

She first heard about the group through an ex-boyfriend. "It's a funny story," she said. "I was dating a guy who worked in the K-pop industry, and he kept telling me about BTS. He said, 'Based on your music taste, you're going to like JK.' I said, 'Okay, recommend something.' He told me to listen to the "GOLDEN" album. I fell completely in love with it."

After that, Mari worked her way through the members' solo releases. Jungkook first, then J-Hope, then Jimin, then Agust D. "It was just wow," she said, laughing. "All of this happened in February this year. The guy and I broke up, and I became a huge fan of theirs."

Her friend Dasil, 48, also left home early to make it to the restaurant. "I wanted to try Korean food, and since this is the place V came to eat, I was curious," she said.

The Madrid concert was the opening show of the European leg of the tour, and Dasil could not hide her excitement. "I'm excited, nervous, and very happy," she said. "I'm going to have a great time with my friends, scream, let out the stress, and have fun. Most of all, just being in the same stadium as BTS is what matters most."

She said the group reshaped how she sees her own life. "BTS made me see everything in a positive light. They made me enjoy life in a brighter, happier way."

Itaisa, 43, became an ARMY through Dasil. "After getting to know BTS, I became happier, I see life more positively, and I live in the moment," she said. "The messages in their songs really affected me. The message BTS sends, the happiness I get from it, and seeing who they are — that's what keeps me cheering for them."

Dasil and Itaisa are not stopping in Madrid. The two plan to travel together for the London show in July, building more memories alongside BTS city by city.