‘It feels like a homecoming’: BTS Army takes over Toronto ahead of stadium shows

TORONTO -- Four years ago, Sokvin Vann found solace in K-pop and BTS after experiencing life dissatisfaction. This led her to form BTS Army Toronto, a fan club dedicated to fostering connections among like-minded admirers of the South Korean band. The club, named after the larger BTS fan community, organizes events, fundraisers, and promotes local Korean businesses. Vann’s brother passed away, but she continued growing the organization into a thriving community of over 100,000 fans.

BTS, known for hits like "Swim," "Permission to Dance," and "Butter," will perform for about 100,000 fans in two sold-out shows at Rogers Stadium. Vann, who runs the club with her son and a dedicated team, believes BTS's music resonates deeply with fans due to its meaningful lyrics about mental health, self-love, personal growth, and more. The band's Arirang World Tour, which will be BTS's first Canadian stop in eight years, is set to take place at Rogers Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

Toronto is embracing BTS's return with a city council decision to rename a portion of Yonge Street as BTS Boulevard, and fans have been lining up daily to visit the official BTS merchandise pop-up store on Bloor Street. Fans like Aira Uy, who attended a previous Toronto concert in 2020, are excited to see BTS perform at home, describing the experience as a "homecoming."

The community's fervent devotion, shorthand terms like "army" or "bias," and the band's empowering lyrics are a few of the factors contributing to the energetic atmosphere surrounding the upcoming event.