K-pop sensation BTS lighted the Seoul night sky with fireworks show on Saturday night, commemorating their 10th debut anniversary at the riverside park in Yeouido in collaboration with their label, Big Hit Music, which is part of Hybe Corp., and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Despite the scorching heat reaching 30 degrees Celsius, an estimated crowd of 400,000 people, including BTS fans known as Army, flocked to the vicinity of the riverside park.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, the event concluded without any major incidents and the area left by fans was praised for its cleanliness, reflecting the maturity of both the fandom and the civic consciousness. The organizers installed large nets for collecting garbage and numerous signage throughout the park, and fans voluntarily participated in cleaning up the surroundings, demonstrating their responsible behavior.

Throughout the day, the Yeouido riverside park was bustling with activity, spanning from Yeouinaru Station to Wonhyo Bridge. Various exhibition spaces were set up, showcasing BTS members’ stage costumes and reflecting on the group’s ten-year history. Fans patiently waited in lines under the scorching sun for over three hours to read the members’ handwritten messages and capture commemorative photos in an orderly manner.

The grass field in front of the live screen, where BTS music videos were screened, was quickly filled with fans. They passionately sang and danced along to BTS songs displayed on the giant screens, such as “Born Singer,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” and “DNA.” The sight of fans using purple hats, fans, umbrellas and mini fans, the symbolic color of BTS, to beat the heat was also notable.

A 49-year-old parent travelled all the way to Seoul by high-speed train from Daejeon for their 12-year-old daughter, who is a BTS fan. “Both my daughter and I love BTS. Their lyrics are amazing, and I believe they have a positive influence as artists.”

The global influence of BTS was evident as there were also numerous international fans in attendance, estimated to be around 120,000 by the organizers.

To reduce pedestrian congestion within the park, one-way routes and safety management zones were implemented. Approximately 700 dedicated police officers, Seoul city traffic management personnel and safety staff from the organizers were deployed to maintain order on-site and provide guidance for nearby road traffic.

By Chung Joo-won, Park Na-eun, and Chang Iou-chung

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]