RM turns DJ for grand finale of '2023 BTS Festa

RM, leader of boy band BTS, turns into a radio DJ for the day at the ″2023 BTS Festa″ event held on Saturday at the Yeouido Han River Park in western Seoul. [HYBE]

“I have no idea what I’ll be doing on our 15th and 20th anniversary, but I know for a fact that I will forever be thinking of you, thanking you and loving you — that will never change,” RM said on Saturday as he turned into a special radio DJ for the day.

BTS members have expressed their gratitude for their beloved fan club ARMY with every opportunity they got, and Saturday’s grand finale of the “2023 BTS Festa” proved no exception.

The pinnacle of the “2023 BTS Festa” took place at the Yeouido Han River Park in western Seoul with some 300,000 visitors taking to the riverside park to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the K-pop megaband’s debut. The Festa began last Monday with 11 major attractions in Seoul lit up in purple — BTS’s official color — as a result of a partnership between BTS’s agency HYBE and Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The Yeouido park was filled with all generations of ARMY wearing at least something purple lined up in front of purple-colored installations to take selfies, exhibits containing BTS’s achievements, large screens playing their music videos and booths for people to enjoy hands-on activities and get gifts.

RM’s radio show took place at 5 p.m. under the title, “It’s 5 PM, and this is Kim Namjun,” with the BTS leader becoming both host and performer for half an hour.

RM, leader of boy band BTS, turns into a radio DJ for the day at the ″2023 BTS Festa″ event held on Saturday at the Yeouido Han River Park in western Seoul. [HYBE]

“It’s hot, right? Sorry we debuted in June, but I had to hold this event because I missed you so much,” RM said to the crowd who were fighting off the heat, which reached a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) during the afternoon.

“Hi, I’m DJ Nam-jun. I’ve never done this before, so please bear with me.”

The program began by RM reading out seven letters from fans who shared their memories with BTS, beginning with Kim Seung-yeon, who was born in “some year in the 1980s on June 13,” the anniversary of the septet’s debut.

“I knew that you were going to be huge because your birthday is the same as mine,” RM said, reading out the letter. “BTS is now the biggest name in the world but I’m only getting bigger sideways. But you know I’m always grateful right? Promise me you will always be with us. I love you, I love you ARMY.”

In a friendly and humorous manner, the BTS leader answered back.

“It’s ok, I’m also growing sideways too,” he said. “My little sister was actually born on June 13, too. She’s abroad now, but I’ll give her your best regards. I think everyone born on June 13 is destined to be great. Let’s grow taller and sideways, too, but promise me that you’ll start working out and we’ll move on to the next letter.”

The letter was followed by ones from an ARMY member who has been a fan since 2014, very early in the band’s career, a latecomer to ARMY who joined in 2019, a woman in her 30s who became a web novelist thanks to BTS and a Korean language teacher who thanked BTS for making her work easier.

BTS’s RM performs his solo songs during the ″2023 BTS Festa″ event held on Saturday at the Yeouido Han River Park in western Seoul. [HYBE]

“I really want to thank the foreign ARMYs who took the time to learn Korean, to truly understand and reach the 100 percent perfect purity and texture of our language,” RM said, ending the letter section.

He said he understood just how hard it is to learn a new language. “I will never take your effort and time to love and study for us for granted. I’ll always appreciate it,” he said. “I love you too.”

RM was joined by members Jimin and V, who greeted the audience in a live phone call. The BTS leader performed two of his own solo songs, “Persona” (2019) and “Wild Flower” (2022), closing the show.

“Time flies and everything changes so fast,” he said. “I’ve changed too. It’s been 10 years already — 10 years. Thank you to everyone who made such a wonderful opportunity for me today. Thank you, ARMY, for once again giving me such great experience. Thank you for watching, for loving us, for everything.”

The night finished off with 30 minutes of fireworks that began at 8:30 p.m. and a DJ show that lasted for 50 minutes at the Han River Park. BTS members will continue on their solo paths. Member Suga will hold a Seoul concert this weekend and members Jin and J-Hope are currently performing their mandatory military service.