When Hu Siyi, a 27-year-old Chinese fan of BTS, secured a ticket at midnight for the group’s concert at Gwanghwamun Square, she said she could hardly contain her excitement. “I came to Korea and restarted my undergraduate studies because of them,” Hu said. “I’m so happy that I feel like I might explode just thinking about their comeback.” Drawn in by the group’s music, Hu has been a fan for more than eight years. She said she was particularly drawn to the positive messages in their songs, as well as the members’ talent and involvement in songwriting and choreography. However, the group has had limited exposure in mainland China since Beijing’s unofficial restrictions on “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, following the 2017 deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Hu moved to Korea in May 2025, hoping to attend concerts and other in-person events after all the members completed their military service last year. “If they can’t come to where I live, I’ll just come to them.” Hu is among millions of Chinese fans who have remained devoted to