BTS Is 10 Years Old: Seoul Landmarks Lit Up in Purple to Celebrate K-Pop Band's Anniversary

The iconic N Seoul Tower, also known as Namsan Tower, lit up in purple on Monday 12 June to celebrate South Korean pop band BTS’ 10th anniversary.

Other skyscrapers, bridges, and landmarks in South Korea’s capital will be bathed in purple – a color associated with the band– as the country celebrates the K-pop idols, whose global popularity is a source of national pride.

The lights will be displayed at the backdrop for various social media-driven events marking the 2013 debut of the seven-member group, who are now taking a hiatus to begin to serve their mandatory military duties.

From Monday evening, numerous Seoul structures, including City Hall, the 123-story Lotte World Tower, several Han River bridges, and the futuristic DDP – a Zaha Hadid-designed aluminum and concrete dome that’s often used for visual art, will also be lit up in purple, according to city officials and the group’s management company, Hybe.

Messages congratulating BTS were displayed on digital screens in buildings across Seoul, while postal authorities issued stamps marking the band’s anniversary, which will be available at post offices starting Tuesday.

Fireworks are planned at a park near the Han River on Saturday night, hours after one of the BTS singers, RM, holds a live talk with fans that will be broadcast online.

On the other hand, the K-pop idols will commemorate their 10th anniversary as a group with FESTA.

The annual festival will take place in Seoul, South Korea on June 17 and will be open to the public.

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BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, began forming in 2010 after Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk recruited RM followed by Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. However, the band officially debuted in 2013.

Since then, the artists have gone on to experience dynamite success, including two Grammy nominations, six no. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and an ARMY of fans.

BTS’ popularity expanded across the globe with the 2020 megahit “Dynamite,” the band’s first all-English song. The band has since performed in sold-out arenas around the world and was invited to speak at United Nations meetings, supported by a legion of global followers who call themselves the “Army.”

BTS’ activities as a group are currently on hold as the artists begin to serve in the military. Two BTS singers – Jin and J-Hope – have already started their compulsory 18-month service and other members are to follow in the coming months, which likely means the group will reconvene around 2025.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in uniform for 18-21 months under a system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.