BTS officially kicked off their new tour with three explosive concert nights in Goyang, attracting more than 130,000 in-person attendees along with millions of viewers on online platforms. Not only impressive for its grand scale and top-tier performances, the concert series also became a hot topic of discussion thanks to emotional behind-the-scenes moments—especially the presence of the members’ families.
The parents and relatives of BTS arrived early at the guest seating area on the second day of the concert—the day with better weather conditions compared to the rain-soaked show prior. They were seen taking photos together and chatting warmly before the concert began. Notably, all of the members’ parents were holding the latest version of the ARMY Bomb, no less enthusiastic than the fans. SUGA’s father even prepared an entire bag of lightsticks to share with middle-aged acquaintances who came to support BTS.
Jin’s older brother and j-hope’s older sister also generously shared a few backstage photos taken with the members, confirming the families’ presence at this important event. Altogether, these moments painted a heartfelt picture of the quiet yet steadfast support behind the idols’ spotlight.
Meanwhile, Jungkook’s parents also went viral through a video recorded by a fan attending the event. In the clip, they were seen standing up during the performance of “Idol,” holding ARMY Bombs and enthusiastically grooving to the beat. They clearly showed excitement, attentively following every moment of their seven sons performing on stage. Their sincerity and energy quickly won over the hearts of the ARMY community.
At the same time, another viral video brought a completely different emotion. In this clip, Jungkook was performing with full energy and moved closer to the au∂ιєnce, hoping to hype up the atmosphere and interact directly with fans. However, instead of immersing themselves in the music, most people in that area were focused on holding up their phones to record him. The moment Jungkook paused briefly, with a flicker of disappointment on his face, left many viewers feeling disheartened.
The stark contrast between the two videos—on one side, Jungkook’s parents pαѕѕionately cheering, and on the other, fans absorbed in filming—sparked widespread debate within the fandom. Many fans expressed feeling apologetic toward the idol because of the behavior of a portion of those calling themselves “ARMY.” Despite being young and seemingly full of energy, their actions did not even compare to a fraction of the enthusiasm shown by the middle-aged parents. What made it even more embarrαѕѕing was that they were standing right in front of Jungkook, causing him to feel visibly awkward on the spot.
In fact, throughout the concert, BTS members repeatedly asked the au∂ιєnce to put their phones down and fully engage with the atmosphere. Nevertheless, from various camera angles, it was evident that quite a number of attendees still prioritized recording over experiencing the moment firsthand. The long-standing discussion about what it truly means to enjoy a concert has once again become a heated topic within the fandom.
Under the viral videos, fans left numerous comments expressing their opinions:
- They have been BEGGING us to put our phones down. Literally put it into lyrics telling us to put our phones down. I hope the rest of the tours take note and really have fun with them. I love fan cams but to be in the front row doing this. Just don’t.
- It’s honestly embarrαѕѕing seeing fans glued to their phones while Jungkook’s own parents are standing there enjoying every moment. They showed more genuine support than people who call themselves ARMY
- You can literally see the disappointment on Jungkook’s face… They stood in front of his face but didn't do anything meanwhile his parents were vibing, dancing on the floor
- I'm sorry they don't deserve those tickets I've seen more armys who truly wants to be there but was outside of the stadium jumping and enjoying
- I am genuinely curious, why do people spend so much money (especially for that area) to not be able interact with them....they're RIGHT THERE
- His face. He was so excited and you can see his disappointment that breaks my heart
- To all the ARMYs attending the concert: please don't do that. I know you want to save a memory, but it's better to enjoy the moment with them. We waited 4 years for this; make them feel at home. It’s so sad that some only care about getting videos for likes
- Middle-aged parents were more enthusiastic than young people who call themselves fans. Honestly, they shouldn’t have been standing in front of him like that—if you’re just going to focus on your phone, please give your spot to someone else
Fortunately, this situation will likely not be repeated—at least—for the upcoming BTS concerts at Tokyo Dome, נαραи on the 17th and 18th. One of the strict regulations that BigHit Music clearly stated earlier in its official announcement on Weverse regarding BTS’s concerts in נαραи reads: “You will not be able to bring electronic devices (cameras, magnifying glαѕѕes with a recording feature, recorder, video recorder, or other recording devices) or dangerous materials into the venue.”
Attendees are required to keep their phones on silent mode and store them in their bags or pockets at all times, with absolutely no usage allowed during the concert. If staff detect phone usage, they have the right to inspect the device on the spot. In cases where recording is found, violators must immediately delete all data, leave the venue, and will not receive a ticket refund. This regulation applies to all devices, including mobile phones.
These strict rules are considered a necessary step to ensure a complete experience for both artists and fans. After the controversies in Goyang, many ARMY hope that the concerts in נαραи will truly become a space where music is enjoyed in its purest form—not through phone screens, but through genuine emotions.
