Seoul, South Korea, June 13 (V7N) – Thousands of devoted BTS fans, many clad in the group's signature purple, converged in South Korea on Friday to commemorate the K-pop supergroup's 12th anniversary. The celebratory mood was amplified by the imminent full reunion of the septet, with all but one member now having completed their mandatory military service.

BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 as its members fulfilled their military obligations, mandatory for all South Korean men under 30. This week saw four members conclude their army duties and re-enter civilian life. The final member, SUGA, who was undertaking alternative service due to health reasons, is scheduled for release next week, paving the way for the group's highly anticipated return to performance.

Fans, affectionately known as ARMY, began gathering Friday for the group's annual "FESTA" celebration, marking the anniversary of their debut. The main event is being held in a massive event space in Goyang, just outside Seoul. Local authorities have embraced the celebration, setting up "photo spots" across the entire city, effectively "turning the whole city into an extended festival stage." Mayor Lee Dong-hwan extended a warm welcome to "ARMY fans from around the world who will be visiting the city."

Last year's outdoor FESTA drew criticism after dozens reportedly suffered from heat-related illnesses due to scorching temperatures. This year, fans expressed relief that the event is being held indoors. "I'm so glad this time the FESTA is held indoors," Maria Wojcik, a 28-year-old fan from Poland, told AFP.

In Seoul, fans have also been congregating outside the headquarters of HYBE, the group's agency, which is adorned with the slogan "WE ARE BACK." Amidst the fan frenzy, a Chinese woman was briefly detained Thursday by police for a possible attempted break-in at BTS singer Jungkook's luxury apartment in Seoul, just hours after his release from military service.

HYBE Anticipates Significant Financial Rebound

While fans are buzzing with excitement for a reunion, no entity is more thrilled by the impending return of BTS than their agency, HYBE, which is poised for a sharp rebound in earnings. Before the military hiatus, HYBE's CEO Lee Jae-sang revealed that the band's contribution to the company's revenue was a staggering 95 percent, a figure estimated to have dropped to "under 20 percent" as of 2024.

However, analysts are now forecasting a significant surge in profits with the group's full return. "HYBE recorded its first earnings decline during BTS's military service period, but with the group's full return, profits are expected to grow by around 150 percent over the next two years through 2026," said Lee Ki-hoon, an analyst at Hana Securities. Hwang Ji-won from IM Securities projected that "With BTS resuming a large-scale world tour, HYBE's operating profit is projected to rise 71 percent on-year to 462 billion won ($340 million) next year."

The comeback also coincides with potential signs of easing in China's unofficial ban on Korean pop culture, which was imposed in retaliation after Seoul allowed the deployment of a US-made THAAD missile defense system. South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung, who took office after a snap election last week, has signaled a more pragmatic diplomatic approach than his hawkish predecessor. Experts suggest that if relations improve, concert attendance could soar, with China being a key market for K-pop.

Hwang added, "Considering the scale of the tour that was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the pent-up demand, the group (BTS) is expected to draw at least 3 million concertgoers."

As part of the FESTA celebration, BTS member J-Hope is scheduled to hold a concert at a nearby venue, and many fans are hoping that the recently discharged members will join him on stage for a special performance, offering a glimpse of the highly anticipated full group reunion.

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