Who are the BTS Army? These K-pop fans will do almost anything to catch a glimpse of their idols
We joined fans of BTS staked out at Hong Kong airport last week waiting for the K-pop superstars to arrive in the city
Armed with the band’s flight details bought through Instagram, they say they may go to extreme lengths to show their support, but are far from the worst
It’s 11am and in two-and-a-half hours BTS, the biggest K-pop outfit in the world, are due to arrive in Hong Kong as part of their Love Yourself World Tour.
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A small crowd of around two dozen fans are waiting by the special exit at the airport arrival lobby where celebrities are usually hurried into private cars.
The
have touched the hearts of teenagers around the world with their lyrics – which speak about issues such as bullying and depression – and even appeal to their mothers with their good looks and charisma. Their global fan base is of formidable size, and has its own name: the BTS “Army”.
Today’s crowd is surprisingly sparse, given hundreds of fans gathered at the same spot last December when the band came for the Mnet Asian Music Awards. It is, however, made up of their most dedicated fans. And they take idol worship to a whole new level.
BTS are now the biggest stars of the K-pop entertainment industry. Photo: Alamy
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A 20-year-old boy, the only male and the first at the scene, took a day off from work and came at 7pm the previous day to ensure he could “secure a spot on the frontline”.
