This week has seen Korean pop music (K-pop) fans all over the world burst with excitement with the announcement that global K-pop phenomenon BTS is set to make its long-awaited return as a group, following a hiatus brought on by mandatory military enlistment – a requirement for all able-bodied South Korean men.
With only Min Yoon-gi (Suga) left to complete his service (scheduled for discharge on 21 June), the rest of the members – Jin, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – are preparing to reunite, sparking a global wave of celebration.
Their devoted fanbase, known as ARMY, has eagerly anticipated this moment for years. To mark the occasion, BTS’s label Hybe lit up its headquarters with the message ‘We Are Back,’ an image that quickly went viral, fuelling worldwide excitement.
But this comeback is about much more than one band. It is a reflection of the growing global pull of K-pop culture, a phenomenon that continues to break cultural and linguistic barriers and create meaningful connections across continents, including here in Sri Lanka.
K-pop: More than an industry
To understand the power of this moment, it helps to look at the broader forces behind the rise of BTS and the rise of Korean pop music itself. K-pop refers to a vast and vibrant industry encompassing everything from idol-driven chart hits to indie music and experimental sounds.
The modern phenomenon of K-pop, as we most commonly recognise it today, is marked by elaborate choreography, bold visuals, and catchy hooks, fusing Western sounds with Korean sensibilities. From there, the idol group system emerged, with Korean music studios building highly trained groups whose music and visuals are meticulously crafted for broad appeal.
Though sung primarily in Korean, K-pop songs often feature multilingual lyrics and transcendent melodies, helping the genre cross linguistic and cultural barriers to capture a truly global audience. At its heart, K-pop is modern pop music – wide-ranging in style, rich in influences, and powered by an industry that blends innovation, spectacle, and deep fan engagement.
However, being a K-pop star – or an idol – does not exclude one from their responsibilities as a Korean citizen. All able-bodied Korean men are still subject to mandatory military enlistment, a system that remains in place due to the continued state of armistice – but never an official ceasefire – between North and South Korea.
Since 1957, mandatory military conscription has been a legal obligation for South Korean men. Although exemptions are sometimes granted to elite athletes or classical artists, K-pop idols like BTS have never been exempt, despite their profound cultural and economic contributions.
The group contributes an estimated $ 3.6 billion annually to the Korean economy, an impact rooted in South Korea’s deliberate post-1997 investment in ‘Hallyu’ – the Korean Wave – as a global soft power strategy.
BTS embodies the success of this cultural movement. The group members’ decision to fulfil their military service, even as political debates swirled about their eligibility for exemption, only deepened public respect. Now, as they prepare to reunite, the conversation is not only about the next chapter for BTS but also about how K-pop culture is transforming the global music landscape and the lives of its fans.
K-pop in Sri Lanka: A community of connection
Here in Sri Lanka, K-pop fandom continues to thrive and evolve, with several active local fan communities. BTS’s comeback has been met with palpable excitement, as fans prepare to reconnect with the group that has been a source of inspiration and comfort.
Dilhara Madhawan, a devoted Sri Lankan ARMY, captured this emotional connection when she explained that although she had felt sad when the members left for military service, she had stayed connected to them through their music.
“I kept listening to their music to keep company with them through music,” she said, adding that she was excited they were reuniting again and could not wait for new music. For many fans like Dilhara, BTS’s music is a form of emotional support and a bridge across cultural divides.
Disara Perera shared a similar perspective, noting that the band’s return was about more than competition or chart placements, it was about healing and connection as well. She expressed the belief that BTS members had already proven their global impact through solo work, adding: “They will be able to heal more people than before, because now their fanbase – ARMY – has become bigger and stronger.”
Like many Sri Lankan ARMY, Disara expressed a dream of seeing the group live one day and reflected on how BTS had helped her learn to love herself, saying: “They speak for me, for myself.”
This highlights one of the most powerful aspects of K-pop fandom culture: its deeply interactive, emotionally resonant nature. Fans don’t just admire their idols from afar; they feel part of their journey, finding comfort and empowerment through the music and the community it fosters.
Pride, loyalty and the power of K-pop
For many Sri Lankan fans, BTS’s return is a source of immense pride and cultural significance.
Sahani Eshwarage articulated this feeling perfectly when she called BTS “the GOAT, the gold standard of the industry”. In her view, BTS does not need to chase the top because “they are the top”. This sense of pride runs deep within K-pop fandoms, where loyalty and emotional investment are as important as musical success.
Jessica Albert echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in BTS’s enduring place in global culture. She said that although the group took time away to serve, fans were more than willing to wait: “They will be at their rightful place in no time because they never truly left.”
These reflections underline a key dynamic in K-pop fandom: fans see themselves as partners in their idols’ journeys, championing their well-being and growth as much as their achievements. In this culture of mutual respect, the fact that idols take time for themselves is embraced, further strengthening the bond between artist and fan.
Art, identity and creative inspiration
K-pop’s influence in Sri Lanka extends well beyond music, impacting how young people view identity, fashion, and creative self-expression.
Dinithi Kumari (better known as Teddy), another Sri Lankan ARMY, remarked on how normal it was for other groups to rise during BTS’s absence but made it clear that “they don’t have to compete with anyone to claim their place”.
She also noted how K-pop fandom in Sri Lanka had grown, adding: “I admire it for both music and visual preferences.” For fans like Teddy, BTS represents a creative force that transcends trends, offering continual inspiration.
Kosh Hewage, a Sri Lankan fashion personality and K-pop enthusiast, highlighted the broader cultural impact of BTS, calling it “a global phenomenon, a fashion powerhouse, and a group of incredibly multitalented individuals who have redefined what it means to be artists in today’s world”.
He emphasised that the group’s influence extended beyond music, shaping fashion trends, public discourse around mental health, and global perceptions of Asian identity. Personally, Kosh noted that he drew significant inspiration from BTS in his fashion work, adding that the style and creativity of the group’s members taught him to view fashion as “a statement of identity and expression”.
The unstoppable pull of K-pop culture
What emerges clearly from the voices of Sri Lankan ARMY is that K-pop culture is about much more than slick visuals or catchy tunes. It is about community, identity, empowerment, and belonging – a global cultural space where fans feel seen, heard, and inspired.
BTS’s return is not only a moment of collective excitement but also a powerful reminder of how K-pop culture continues to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.
Whether by providing comfort during difficult times, inspiring new forms of creative expression, or fostering resilience and inclusivity, K-pop, with BTS at its forefront, continues to reshape what global fandom can achieve. The passion of Sri Lankan fans is a testament to this magnetic pull.
As BTS reunites and a new chapter begins, one thing is certain: the intrigue of K-pop culture will only grow stronger, continuing to inspire and unite fans across the world.