Writers: Alina Menshakova (Russia) & Aishwarya Khale (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

An ‘in-person’ event in Korea for the BTS ARMY was announced officially on Weverse, marking the occasion to celebrate BTS’ 12th anniversary as BTS Festa 2025. It was a two-day event, held on June 13, 2025, and June 14, 2025, at Kintex 2, Hall 9, and Hall 10 in Goyang, Korea.  Every year, BTS Festa is observed online for the fans. This year, an on-site event took place, an incredible opportunity for all the ARMYs in Korea to enjoy and experience the varied programs in person, making it an unforgettable day. 

The entrance of the venue transformed into Bangtan Land, with all the lights and an enormous army bomb, while the space was crowded hours before the event’s allotted time. All the fans were super hyped, as they patiently waited for the gates to open, setting a spark full of excitement in the atmosphere. 

We reached out to Alina Menshakova from Russia, who is currently living in Korea to pursue her master’s degree in Korean Cultural Studies, who attended the offline event to know more about her experience and how she felt while celebrating the festa with fellow ARMYs.

The Venue, Zones, and Their Activities

The venue shimmered in the darkness, offering quite a grand and festive aura. Both halls nine and ten were connected, making it easy to commute between them. Each of them was divided into the Program Zone, HYBE Zone, and Brand booths (various brand stores). Hall Nine’s Program Zone included an Army Bomb Photo spot for the audience to capture pictures near the light sculpture, followed by photo booths, a creative DIY zone where one could make their favorite song or scents sachet, a zone with voice messages from the members, and in the other two zones, fans could print photo cards and view the trophies and awards. 

Hall Ten’s Program Zone included a whale light sculpture, an AR photo zone, an album archive zone, a Spotify playlist zone, a game zone, a DIY pin-button zone, a wall where one could leave a message, a game zone to take up a challenge to match the timing, and a photo zone with all seven members’ solo projects.

The Hybe zone of Hall Nine included the Army Zone, Festa Merch, and the Weverse store, while Hall Ten included BTS Island and Capsule Album Zone for fans to collect and own official merchandise.  The Brand Booths were dedicated to brands like Photoism in Hall Nine, while Hy+Paldo, Ottogi, Laneige, and Damtuh were in Hall Ten. Fans explored these brands’ setups, and some of them provided product samples as a present.

Highlight of the Day – The Light Show

In Hall Nine, the most anticipated part of the day was the ‘Light Show featuring the Army Bomb’. It started sharply at the beginning of every hour and lasted for almost 5 minutes. The big screen played the Mikrokosmos video, and the surroundings were illuminated, including sculptures in both halls. All the armies were singing, with their army bombs participating in the show. The unity of the fandom and the nostalgic vibes were seen while the song played in the background. 

Onsite and Online Festa Difference

Both the Online and Offline Festa have their unique charm. The on-site festa offers enjoyable opportunities for souvenirs, photos, and engaging activities at various booths. In contrast, the online festa is filled with wholesome content that showcases the members, highlighting their fun and endearing interactions.

Fan Experience – Alina Menshakova

Alina described how it was her first time attending the BTS Festa event and the surreal feeling she felt throughout the day.

I still can’t believe that I got the opportunity to see BTS live and participate in their events; it still feels so unreal for me. I like online Festas a lot, but experiencing it offline was just unforgettable and meaningful. We checked the program on the website beforehand, but seeing how everything is so different in life is always the most thrilling part. When we entered the hall, we thought it was the most beautiful and worth the wait. So, we could see it with our own eyes, and everything felt amazing. I loved how dark it was inside, as if it were a concert.

It was so difficult to participate in all the zones due to the time running out and long lines. I took pictures in a photo booth, grabbed the brand presents, checked the album archive, the playlist, and the trophy zone. I made sure to leave my message on the wall. The photo booth had a special Festa-style frame, which was also helpful in creating a memorable moment. The trophy zone made me feel a little bit closer to BTS’ achievements, because it felt unreal to see them in real life. There was a wall that gave all the armies a chance to express their feelings and gratitude towards BTS, and it was wonderful to see a lot of different languages. The most interactive zones were the games and the DIY zones. 

I was surprised by the dedication of the Army, who show their talents and imagination in creating fandom-related outfits. Everyone wore something special or had special accessories, which was quite admirable. It was surprising and touching to watch a light show for the first time.  I was tired, but a little hesitant to leave, as I wanted to feel the event and participate in some more activities. It gave great memories, especially because I was able to experience everything with my friend. A perfect bonding moment for the BTS Army in general and you and your friend in particular. Everyone seemed excited about the event and especially about the return of the members. The Festa brought a celebration to my day and helped me make 13^th June, more special than it already was.

She also happily stated how through BTS, she rose towards her passion.

I think I was excited in general to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the group that has been so influential on me. I have been a BTS Army since 2019, and BTS was a major reason I got to step into the Korean culture and decided to develop my career in the field of Korean Studies.

Conclusion

13th June 2013 is the debut date of BTS, which marks their 12 years as a group together this year, with the intact purple ocean of BTS Army worldwide. The On-site BTS Festa 2025 left the fans with remarkable memories. From exploring the programs after waiting patiently in the queues to participating in the light show and capturing happy moments on their phones or in photo booths, as a keepsake from the day, they were quite active. With distinctive experiences, it also created a safe space for people to form bonds, making the day more special. 

The energy revolved across the Kintex 2 and worldwide was full of positivity, filled with unsaid sentiments because of the return of the BTS members from the military and the Festa celebration. 

Similarly, Festa events dedicated to Bangtan took place across many states in India, where the BTS ARMY gathered to honor the 12 years of BTS. A large number of fans came together and joined the party in their respective states and cities. Those included performances from local groups, games related to Bangtan, Merchandise stalls, Random Play Dance, and J-Hope’s Final Stage Live Concert Screening, or the other BTS concert screenings, which led to sing-alongs and dance.

As the celebrations wrapped up, there was an undeniable sense of gratitude and joy that filled the air. Fans left with cherished memories, new friendships, and an even deeper appreciation for BTS and their journey. These events serve as a reminder of the incredible bond that has formed over the years, transcending borders and bringing people together through music and love. With hearts full of hope for the future, ARMYs look forward to the next chapter of BTS’s story, ready to continue supporting them every step of the way. The legacy of BTS and the joy they bring will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of their fans forever.

How did you celebrate BTS’s anniversary? Would you like to attend this kind of event in the near future? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.