“We couldn’t go to the concert, so it’s fun to gather with friends and fellow ​BTS ARMY,” Martinez, a self‑employed fan, told Reuters at the AMC theatre at The Grove outdoor ​mall.

ARMY is the name of the band’s global fanbase.

BTS consists of seven members: RM, ⁠Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, who are managed under Big Hit Music, an independent label ​under Hybe Corporation.

The global screenings feature two full-length concerts from BTS’s world tour—one filmed live in Goyang on ​Saturday and another set in Tokyo on April 18—allowing fans worldwide to share in the experience.

Martinez said BTS stands apart from other K-pop groups because of their broad appeal. “It’s not just for younger people. It’s for any age, without limits on ​race or gender,” she said. “Music comes from the heart.”

She met fellow fan Millie B, a pharmacy technician and ​BTS content creator, through Instagram, bonding over their shared love for the group. “I didn’t meet my friends until I became ‌ARMY,” ⁠Martinez said.

Holding her BTS glow stick, Millie B said the entire group’s return after a more than five‑year hiatus has energised fans. “They went to the military, and now they’re finally back with a big tour,” she said. “It’s a big deal.”

BTS went on hiatus in 2022, and all seven members completed South Korea’s mandatory military ​service by mid-2025, before getting ​together to record their ⁠fifth studio album “ARIRANG.”

BTS’s world tour launched on Thursday in Goyang. Released in March, the album topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks, a first for a K‑pop act, ​while lead single “Swim” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100.

The tour is ​expected to ⁠generate blockbuster revenues, with 34 stops across the globe—including Los Angeles in September—setting a new record for the most dates by a K-pop artist.

Fan Nicole Lee, who already has tickets to the Los Angeles show, said she couldn’t ⁠wait. “I wanted ​to see their performance a little bit early,” she said.

“I’m ​just happy that they’re finally back together again,” Lee added.

For her, the group’s global appeal comes from the communication and care that the ​members offer fans.

“I think people really resonate with that,” she added.