BTS members discharged from military, Korean tourism surges

 






First FESTA after military discharge to be held on June 13-14 at KINTEX
Hotels and restaurants near KINTEX expect sales boom as ARMY gathers
400,000 people attended on 10th anniversary FESTA two years ago, including 120,000 foreign fans
BTS travel landmarks back in the spotlight, regional economics hopeful


With six of BTS members (excluding Suga) completing their military service, global ARMY attention is now focused on Korea. The annual BTS FESTA, held on June 13—the group's debut anniversary, is raising expectations for a tourism boom, especially from international from international fans visiting Korea.

BTS will host the 2025 BTS FESTA on June 13-14 at Halls 9 and 10 of Exhibition Center 2 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Since this will be the first time that six of the seven members will gather post-discharge, the event is expected to significantly boost both domestic and international tourism.




The enthusiasm was evident as around 500 fans from around the countries flocked to the discharge ceremonies of RM and V on June 10, following by Jimin and Jungkook on June 11, all completing service as military sergeants.

Two years ago, to celebrate BTS's 10th anniversary, a large-scale event was held on June 10 at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul, attracting 400,000 attendees, including 120,000 foreign fans.

This turnout generated substantial economic impact, being about 3.8 times the average daily number of foreign tourists to Korea during June 2023, when approximately 960,000 international visitors were recorded (according to the Korea Tourism Data Lab by the Korea Tourism Organization).

Hotels and the broader accommodation sector in Seoul reportedly "screamed the joy" due to the surge of foreign tourists from FESTA. Additionally, with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, tourism programs such as "Map Of The Seoul" stamp tour—featured BTS-Themed spots like Gyeongbukgung Palace and BTS Forest in Hangang Park—led to further increases in visitor traffic.




Although this year's event is held indoors, limiting attendance compared to the 10th anniversary celebration, fans' excitement remains high, especially with Suga expected to be fully discharged by June 21. The presence of all seven members (OT7) is anticipated soon, reigniting strong for enthusiasm. Nearby hotels and restaurants are already seeing a short-term boom in business.

At the same time, BTS-Themed travel landmarks are regarding attention. Notable spots include:

  • Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbukgung Palace, featured in BTS's "IDOL" performance in Hanbok on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2020
  • Sungnyemun Gate, the opening stage location for the 2021 Global Citizen Live in Seoul
  • The iconic BTS Bus Stop at Hyangho Beach in Jumunjin, Gangwon Province, featured on the jacket cover of BTS's second full album repackage

These destinations are once again trending due to the members' military discharges.

In March, V's visit to Chuncheon's traditional market led to a fan surge, prompting the city to begin developing the area as a BTS tourism spot. The city plans to invest up to 1 billion won (approx. $720,000) by next year to build photo zones, set up a foreigner-friendly flea market, and create traveler interaction and experience programs to revitalise the local economy.


Original article: Naver






















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