Two women are leading the charge on welcoming more than 100,000 BTS fans (nicknamed the ARMY) into Charm City as they prepare for two shows with the biggest K-pop band in the world Monday and Tuesday at M&T Bank Stadium.
In support of its 10th studio album, ARIRANG, the Korean boy band has returned to live performances after completing mandatory military service. This stop in Baltimore is one of 12 in North America on its worldwide tour that features 88 shows across five continents.
Deja McLean and Lacava Norris connected on Discord after realizing they had commented on the same post about wanting to emulate the celebration of the K-pop band’s comeback tour in other cities. Since then, they’ve collaborated with businesses and organizations around Baltimore and the surrounding area to usher in BTS and the swarm of fans.
Norris, who lives in South Carolina and has been helping coordinate remotely, said managing a project this big has been challenging, but she loves seeing so many people come together.
“It shows just how much ARMY comes and they will show up and show out every time, especially when they want it,” Norris said.
McLean, who grew up in Maryland, is hoping the BTS experience in Baltimore isn’t something people can just glaze over.
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“There is more to Baltimore than just coming here for the concert. There’s a bunch of immersive events that you can interact with and really understand Baltimore’s culture,” said McLean, adding that she also wanted to address negativity surrounding the city’s reputation with safety.
“We’re just looking to change that and give people something to remember,” McLean said.
Who are the Bangtan Boys?
BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, is a seven-member South Korean pop group that has become one of the biggest acts in the world since debuting in 2013.
Made up of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, the band is known for music that blends pop, hip-hop and R&B. Although many of its biggest hits lean toward the pop genre, it is also known to write personal and introspective lyrics.
BTS became the first Korean pop act to be nominated for a Grammy in 2021 with “Dynamite” and was nominated again in 2022 for “Butter.” BTS has won 67 Daesangs, the most prestigious awards in their industry, and is the most-awarded artist in South Korean history.
The group has been on a nearly four-year hiatus that began in 2022, during which the members focused on solo projects and completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.
The BTS ARMY
The BTS faithful have climbed the ranks of dedicated fanbases, rivaling those of One Direction and Taylor Swift. They have become known for how much they support their favorite band.
When the musical group donated $1 million to Black Lives matter, the fanbase matched it within 24 hours. They’ve also worked to organize massive global charities and raise millions for social causes to match the band’s UNICEF LOVE MYSELF initiatives.
Ahead of the first Maryland concert, the BTS ARMY raised more than $13,000 for a Baltimore nonprofit that teaches wrestling and life skills to underprivileged students.
The ARMY also rallies behind each other. Concert freebies, small fan-made gifts that take hours to craft, are staples among the fandom. Fans hand them out before a show to celebrate the event, meet people and share excitement before the lights go up.
Katherine Mooney, a relatively new BTS fan, made over 150 freebies. Her gifts include a printed “ticket” to the show and a gift bag with a BTS photo card and traditional Korean cookie. She said she’s excited to hand them out before she attends the show.
“There’s just something really magical about being in this giant stadium surrounded by all these cool people who love this music and what it stands for,” Mooney said.
What Baltimore has in store
Though the shows aren’t until Monday and Tuesday, hotels are booked to capacity through the weekend, which means BTS fans will need something to do before they hear ARIRANG live.
Here are some of the things Welcome to Boramore has on the agenda:
- An ARMY welcome at BWI: From 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, ARMY members who swing by the info desk at the arrivals area at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will be greeted with a decorated welcome display and gift bags. The display will be up until Wednesday.
- Charm City passport: A guide that offers five unique routes to explore the area, featuring local businesses and organizations.
- Preconcert happy hours, flash tattoo events, karaoke nights and 21-plus after-parties
You can check out a more complete list of BTS-themed experiences on the Welcome to Boramore Facebook page.
Heading to the concert
Both shows at M&T Bank Stadium will start at 8 p.m. Gates at the stadium typically open two hours before the event.
It goes without saying that there will likely be bumper-to-bumper traffic in Baltimore and the surrounding areas.
Something else you need to watch out for: congested sidewalks. Allow for extra travel time as you navigate the city.
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