Since the ARIRANG tour began in April, the BTS members have repeatedly talked about having their privacy invaded throughout the tour. RM once shared, "On tour, sometimes you just can't go out because there are a lot of fans and its really hard to be on your own." Meanwhile, V even had to post a message asking fans not to gather outside their hotel, make noise, or seriously affect his and the members’ sleep, rest, and recovery.
ARMY have also witnessed this issue firsthand. Especially during the European leg of the tour, BTS were repeatedly followed by crowds whenever they appeared in public, from the Eiffel Tower to a bowling alley. Even when getting into an elevator, the members had phones pressed right up against the glαѕѕ to film them, to the point that V had to raise his hand to cover himself. Numerous videos were filmed and widely shared on social media despite other ARMYs calling for them to be taken down and asking people to stop following the idols.
However, it seems that after the members spoke up several times and ARMY themselves continued reminding the community to respect their personal boundaries, the situation has improved significantly, especially during the second North αмєяι¢αn leg of ARIRANG. A recent moment in Arlington became a clear example of that change, as Jin spoke emotionally about how ARMY treated him during his time off!
During the ending ment at the Arlington concert on Day 1, Jin revealed that he had gone to an amusement park the day before and had an incredibly great time. What particularly impressed him was that although he met many ARMY there, the fans did not try to approach or follow him. He recalled: “I went to an amusement park yesterday and had a very great time. I met many ARMY there, they respected my privacy. They just said ‘Hi’ and let me enjoy my time. ARMY was very considerate, so I was very touched”
At the same time, he also reminded fans: “I love seeing you guys in front me, but please don’t try to find us”, giving an example: “If we happen to meet, I will say ‘Hi.’ Okay, thanks for understanding. I had a great time today. Thank you, ARMY. I love you!” Jin’s words were met with loud cheers and applause from the fans at the concert, and the video was later widely shared across social media.
This heartfelt comment also reminded many people of a similar story V shared when BTS were in Boston not long ago. According to V, around 90 out of 100 ARMY who happened to see BTS on the street would deliberately pretend not to recognize them, even avoiding eye contact as they walked past, respecting the members’ privacy so they could create as many memories as possible in their country.
Interestingly, this has even encouraged the members to sometimes be the ones to approach and greet fans first, rather than having fans try to approach them. He recalled: “It makes us feel so grateful that we're the ones who end up saying hello first: ‘Hi,’ ‘Have a good day.’ Sometimes we'll even shake hands. Moments like that are so heartwarming. So we're the ones who thank them.”
He even shared a rather amusing story about a time when BTS and a fan happened to walk along the same street. The two sides said goodbye, only to realize that they were actually heading in the same direction. He recalled, “One time, we were even walking down the same street. We said, ‘Bye-bye,’ but it turned out we were both headed in the exact same direction, so that was pretty funny.”
Jin and V’s comments have left fans feeling reαѕѕured because, compared with the previous leg of the tour, local fans now seem to be becoming more aware of the importance of respecting the members’ privacy. These stories also show that the most memorable encounters between artists and fans do not necessarily come from following them around or trying to take photos or get autographs as keepsakes.
At the same time, respectful behavior is clearly soмєтнing BTS notice and deeply appreciate. One ARMY wrote: “See? Respect their boundaries, and you might get their gratitude, a greeting, or even a handshake and a smile from them.” Other fans agreed, sharing their thoughts: "See, guysss!!! Let them have some private time in every stops", "this is exactly why respecting the tannies personal time matters. they notice it & appreciate it", "Oh this is how it should be!!", "See… THAT IS HOW YOU WIN THEIR HEARTS!", "I’m glad they have had fun recently", "So nice to hear Jin had fun in the amusement park. Thank you armys for respecting his privacy and personal time",...
