BTS is celebrating its 11th debut anniversary on June 13, with members sharing wishes for fans. For their 2024 anniversary, all Bangtan members wrote handwritten letters to share their feelings with the global BTS ARMY.
The 2024 edition of the BTS anniversary is significant for the fans. After 18 months in the Korean mandatory military service, the group’s oldest member, Jin, returned to HYBE. The 31-year-old is holding a free-hugs event on the anniversary day where lucky 1,000 fans can embrace the “Astronaut” crooner.
Moreover, Jin will showcase performances and talk to fans in the second part of the special anniversary event, Message From Jin. Fans not residing in South Korea can watch the event live on Weverse.
BTS writes anniversary wishes in handwritten letter for 2024 Festa
Grammy-nominated K-pop supergroup BTS has spent 11 years honing their career, and the members’ current anniversary wishes are making fans sentimental. Namjoon (RM), aka the leader of Bangtan Boys, shared, “I’ll keep this simple: I miss you all so much and can’t wait to see you soon. There’s just a year to go until we will meet again.
How did you like my Right Place Wrong Person album, released last month? I hope you are all doing well. A year seems too long, and it’ll take a lot of patience, but I’m trying to make the most out of the situation with my soulmate, the tenor saxophone.. I’ll perform Dynamite with it when we meet again. I hope everyone has a rejuvenating summer vacation.”
Namjoon concludes the letter by assuring fans that BTS and ARMY’s mutual love will remain unchanged. He wrote, “My love for you all remains unchanged. Our love will grow even stronger and more beautiful upon our return. Waiting is hard, but I believe there is a reason for this. And besides, it is not the end for us. This is only the first line of Act II.”
Meanwhile, Jin kept his letter short and sweet, “I hope everyone is in good health. I’m reaching out to you for the first time in a while. I want to be able to say hello more often, but unfortunately, my situation doesn’t allow that. I’m so excited that my discharge from military service is just around the corner, haha. I heard that my bandmates have been working hard to entertain you during my absence. How nice of them! Now, it’s my turn, ARMY! Although it won’t be easy to do alone, I will try my best.”
Currently training in social service, Suga gushed over the many memories BTS shares with the ARMY. He wrote, “There’re so many memories… But Seokjin Hyung (the Korean term for older brother) will enjoy it with you guys, so I feel relieved. Please enjoy BTS a lot! I’m also counting the day we will meet ARMYs soon. Let’s wait for the day when we meet again!”
J-Hope will return from the military in October 2024, and his letter mostly inquires about the well-being of fans. He asked, “How have you been doing in the meantime? Have you been eating well? Sleeping well? What have you been into these days? Has life been okay without us? What are the things you want to say when you see us? Honestly, did you cheat or not?”
J-Hope, a K-drama fan, also threw a popular show, Lovely Runner, reference, asking the ARMY, “Did you carry Sunjae on your back and run or not?”
Jimin, who enlisted in the military with Jungkook, was honest with fans about the struggle of living on hiatus. The “Filter” crooner shared, “I wonder what it would be like to meet you daily. I’m living my life imagining it. When we meet again, what hair color should I have? My body (health) will be in better shape by then, right? And the hair length has to be a certain length.
What earrings should I wear when I go out? Which song should I sing? Thinking like this: When I lie down, my heart is racing, and I can’t sleep. I wonder how overwhelming it must be. Are our ARMYs doing well?”
Kim Taehyung (BTS V), who is currently a special member of the military police unit, wrote a long letter to his fans. The “Winter Bear” crooner shared his military experience, stating, “I am getting a lot of positive energy from young friends, peers, and unit members. I am getting various new experiences with no end. A bit of boasting: I also came first in a few things/areas. Though a bit of boasting, I am good at shooting!”
He also shared how receiving praise has helped him during this different time of his career. V penned, “Receiving a lot of compliments and learning a lot from my Comrad mates in Judo and Jujitsu just feels like I got born again! I am grateful I can train with them and barely catch up.”
Exercising was not easy for Taetae, and he shared what motivates him to exercise in the training base, adding, “The bodies of my younger colleagues, it’s motivating, and I’m grateful to be able to train with them. I did endure a few injuries and got a few crapes here and there. But I will not overexert/overdo it! It is so exhilarating, so please understand.”
He revealed one personal victory that has made him proud. He noted, “During my free time nowadays, I dance alone at the corner. My body itches for it so that I try not to lose those memories, so as not to lose my self-identity. I overcame my fear of heights; saying it was not a big deal would be a lie. It really was scary, but I overcame it.”
The “Christmas Tree” singer concluded the letter by writing, “Even from afar, I, we, and the ARMY are all worried about each other, so let’s stop that and meet soon. I will express all my pent-up emotions when I finally reunite with my members and ARMYs. Miss you much.”
The youngest BTS member, Jungkook, apologized for his handwriting and wrote, “There aren’t any difficult parts, but I’m getting through it. I am just thinking about the day when I’ll meet you all again, and sometimes, there are fun moments that make me forget about how difficult it is. Did you listen to the fan song “Never Let Go,” released in June?
Even when I was working on the song, I really wanted to release it as a fan song. I hope my feelings were conveyed well. Originally, I was going to show a performance as well, but unfortunately, I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have enough time. If I get the chance, I want to show it on stage later (nothing ready yet).”
He emphasized his desire to perform before the ARMY by writing, “But I want to perform on stage. I want to hear ARMY’s cheers quickly. I want to do great songs again. It was so cold, and the hot summer hasn’t even come yet, but I hope winter comes quickly. Time is running out. I guess I miss you all so much. If you enjoy it, I will stand before you someday, right?”
The “Seven” crooner concluded his letter by reiterating his love for fans, writing, “Until the day we meet again, don’t get sick and take care of your health! That way, you’ll be happier when you meet, right?! I miss you so much. I love you so much! But I really can’t write letters!”
BTS debuted on June 13, 2013, with the track “No More Dream.” Since then, the group has achieved historic milestones, charting several tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 1, snagging Grammy nominations, and earning a global fanbase.
The group is reportedly returning in 2025 after their hiatus to perform their mandatory military duties. To celebrate ten years of The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Part 1, the group will likely release a commemorative anniversary album.
