BTS Suga's Military Discharge Post

(Translation credit: Bangtan Subs)
WELCOME BACK, YOONGI!!! BTS HAVE OFFICIALLY REUNITED!

BTS Suga's Military Discharge

AND THAT'S 7 OUT OF 7! BTS IS BACK, MOTHERFUCKERS!

BTS Members RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook's Military Discharge

IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING. WE ARE SO CLOSE, I CAN TASTE IT.

BTS J-Hope's Military Discharge

YASSSSSS!!! 2 OUT OF 7 ARE BACK!!! I can't wait to see what kind of projects J-Hope has in store for us 'cause you know he's probably got a crazy backlog of music he's just itching to release. Plus, J-Hope and Jin shenanigans!!! I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT.

BTS FESTA 2024: Message from Jin — June 13, 2024 on Weverse Live

(Image source: BTS Official X)
(Image source: BTS Official X)
(Image source: BTS Official X)
(Image source: BTS Official X)

The way my eyes immediately started tearing up with the first line of "My Universe." 🥹

Jin, thank you for coming out to celebrate Festa with us. Even though you were just discharged yesterday and were so nervous to meet us again, your presence was such a precious gift. I'm so glad you're finally home. 💜

JIN IS BACK!

(Image source: BTS Official X)
IT'S OFFICIAL!!! 

GOD, I LOVE THIS FAMILY. 2025 CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH. 😭😭😭 

BTS Jin's Military Discharge

FUCKING FINALLY! THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTA!!! 🎉🥳👏🏼

Unboxing: BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set

My BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set arrived a couple weeks ago!

Obviously, it's been a while since BigHit released a concert tour box set — the last one was just over a year ago with BTSWorld Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final], which actually occurred in 2019 — since, you know, the pandemic happened and then they went on a group hiatus to focus on solo projects, and now all of them have enlisted for their mandatory military service. While not a full tour, Permission to Dance: On Stage was a series of concerts that were held in Los Angeles in November/December 2021, and then in Las Vegas in April 2022. (I had major FOMO from not being able to go to any of the Los Angeles shows, but I got a presale code for the Las Vegas shows, so I did manage to go to the April 16 show at Allegiant Stadium. In fact, I made a whole long weekend out of it.)

BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Outer Box

This set is available in Digital Code format only. (I guess BigHit realized that no one really uses DVD or Blu-ray players anymore and it wasn't worth producing different sets for them.) The Digital Code format enables streaming the video content through Weverse on PC, tablet, or smartphone, rather than using an external disc drive. (You register for the content through a QR code, hence Digital Code format. Once the QR Code is scanned, your device will bring you directly to Weverse, where you'll have to log in to your Weverse account. If you don't already have one, then you will have to sign up for one. From there, you just accept the terms and the content will be available to you through Purchased Media > Digital Code.) On Weverse Shop Global, this set retails for ₩77,000 (or $63.14 USD or ¥9,625 — I am currently using JPY for all my purchases on Weverse Shop because it is much more advantageous when converting to CAD right now).

The BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set is packaged in a bright orange outer box with multicoloured accents and features cut-outs on the front. The physical contents of this set are as follows:

• Digital Code Tag
• Member Photo Charm + Frame (randomized 1 of 7)
• Photobook — Los Angeles
• Photobook — Las Vegas
• Photocard Set (7 each)
• Accordion Folding Photo Card
• Postcard + Frame Stand Set

BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Digital Code Tag + Member Photo Charm (Jin)

The digital contents of this set are as follows:

Making Of Films

• Permission to Dance: On Stage in Los Angeles Practice & Rehearsal Sketch
• Permission to Dance: On Stage in Los Angeles D-Day Sketch
• Permission to Dance: On Stage in Los Angeles Interview
• Permission to Dance: On Stage in Las Vegas Practice & Rehearsal Sketch
• Permission to Dance: On Stage in Las Vegas D-Day Sketch

Permission to Dance: On Stage in Los Angeles — 1st Concert at SoFi Stadium

1. ON
2. FIRE
3. Dope
4. DNA
5. Blue & Grey
6. Black Swan
7. Medley: Blood Sweat & Tears + Fake Love + Life Goes On
8. Boy With Luv
9. Dynamite
10. Butter
11. Medley: Airplane Pt. 2 + Silver Spoon (Baepsae) + Dis-ease + Telepathy
12. Stay
13. So What
14. Medley: I Need U + Save Me
15. IDOL
16. We are Bulletproof: The Eternal
17. Permission to Dance

Permission to Dance: On Stage in Las Vegas — Last Concert at Allegiant Stadium

1. ON
2. FIRE
3. Dope
4. DNA
5. Blue & Grey
6. Black Swan
7. Medley: Blood Sweat & Tears + Fake Love + Life Goes On
8. Boy With Luv
9. Dynamite
10. Butter
11. Telepathy
12. Wings
13. Medley: Stay + So What
14. IDOL
15. Medley: Anpanman + Go Go
16. Permission to Dance

BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Photocard Set
BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Accordion Folding Photo Card
BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Postcard + Frame Stand Set
BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Postcard + Frame Stand Set
BTS Permission to Dance: On Stage in the US Digital Code Box Set — Pre-order Gift: Polaroid Photo Set

I'm so glad that the concert they filmed for streaming in Las Vegas was the same one I actually went to in person because it makes my memories of that show more vivid and nostalgic. And I can re-live it again and again — close-up and in 4K — because the Day 4 (April 16) show in Las Vegas ended up being their last concert as a group outside of Korea before they announced their group hiatus. Now we're just waiting patiently for 2025 so we can see them together again. You can be damn sure, however, that I will pay any amount short of the cost of a new car to go to their first reunion tour.

Unboxing: BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023

Ah, yes, it's that time of year again — my BTS Global Official Fanclub Membership renewal!

There are two types of ARMY memberships to choose from: the original membership and the Merch Pack membership. In previous years, enrolling in or renewing either membership would give you access to purchase the ARMY Membership Kit (you can see what was included in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019), which was typically $13 USD and came with your physical membership card and several merch items. However, since revamping the membership program this year, this kit is now a gift — it's no longer a full merch pack, but it is free with your membership should you choose to take it. (You do have to pay for shipping, though, and it is hefty through Weverse Shop — I paid about $38 CAD for shipping to Canada.)

BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Outer Box
BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Membership Card (Front)
BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Membership Card (Back)
BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Card Holder
BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Member Photocards
BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership Gift 2023 — Group Photocard

The 2023 ARMY Membership Gift comes in a small paper box and includes: the membership card (if you are renewing, they will issue the new card with your original membership number), a silicone card holder (which fits standard plastic cards including the membership card as well as debit/credit cards), and a pack of 8 photo cards (one for each member and a group one). Simple and cute — exactly what a gift with purchase should be. But I do miss the grandeur of the kits. Given that we have to pay for shipping, anyway, I'd easily pay an extra $13 USD for a whole set of merch.

Unboxing: BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership — Merch Box #11

My BTS ARMY Global Fanclub Membership Merch Box #11 arrived last week!

As mentioned previously, the BTS Global Official Fanclub added a Merch Pack Membership option in 2020, which includes four different merch boxes during the membership period on top of the regular Membership perks. The price of this membership (now just called "ARMY Membership") is $150 USD rather than the regular $22. Shipping costs are not included, so the $150 price tag ends up being closer to $300 (or more, depending on where you live, because Weverse Shop uses DHL), but each merch box includes exclusive membership items that you cannot get otherwise. 

If you're an ARMY who is interested in the merch boxes, you can purchase the Global Fanclub Merch Pack Membership at any time through Weverse Shop. 

  BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11

Merch Box #11 contains two main components: an orgel music box and a set of member photocards. These items come inside a light aqua blue box. 

BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11 — Orgel Music Box
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11 — Orgel Music Box (Wind-Up Handle)

The main feature of this Merch Box is a carousel-shaped orgel music box that is themed around the BTS song, "Yet to Come." The orgel is coloured predominantly in a light aqua blue, but the base is coloured in yellow and the top is striped with a darker sky blue. The song title, "Yet to Come," and the BTS logo are printed in white along the base, and a line of lyrics from "Yet to Come," also with the BTS logo, wraps around the top. At the very top of the carousel is the BTS logo in black, and at the bottom of the orgel is a silver wind-up handle in the shape of the ARMY logo. When you turn the wind-up, the inside of the carousel with the seven photocard frames will turn while playing the song, "Yet to Come." 

BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11 — BTS Proof (Door ver.) Photocard Set
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #11 — Orgel Music Box (with Photocard Inserts)

The orgel comes with a set of member photocards that feature the BTS Proof Door version concept photos as well as a sheet of name label stickers. The photocards fit into the frames inside the carousel and there is a place for a name label on each frame. You can interchange the photocards as you wish and you can place them in whatever order you want, but I just went for the official fan chant order. 

This is not the first time we've seen a BTS music box — we got the "Mikrokosmos" music box with Merch Box #6 — and this one is not actually a box that you can put things into, but it is way cuter and definitely more of a prominent display piece. But given that it's a carousel, I only wish they had used a "Spring Day" theme instead...

Unboxing: BTS Global Official Fanclub ARMY Membership — Merch Box #10

My BTS ARMY Global Fanclub Membership Merch Box #10 arrived last week!

As mentioned previously, the BTS Global Official Fanclub added a Merch Pack Membership option in 2020, which includes four different merch boxes during the membership period on top of the regular Membership perks. The price of this membership (now just called "ARMY Membership") is $150 USD rather than the regular $22. Shipping costs aren't included, so the $150 price tag ends up being closer to $300 (or more, depending on where you live, because DHL likes to commit highway robbery), but each merch box includes exclusive membership items that you cannot get otherwise. If you're an ARMY who is interested in the merch boxes, you can purchase the Global Fanclub Merch Pack Membership at any time through Weverse Shop. 

  BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10

Merch Box #10 contains two main components: a snow globe and a set of member photocards. These items come inside a black felt-lined gift box with gold detailing and an ivory sleeve. 

BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10 — Snow Globe
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10 — Snow Globe

The main feature of this Merch Box is a BTS-themed snow globe. It features a white pine tree (or some sort of coniferous tree) with a gold BTS logo sitting on top, and sitting at the bottom of the tree are some wrapped presents (a couple in purple with gold ribbon and a BTS logo on top, and a couple in white with gold ribbon) along with many of BTS' albums, including: Map of the Soul: 7, O!RUL8,2?, 2 Cool 4 Skool, You Never Walk Alone, BE, Butter, Dark & Wild, Love Yourself: Answer, Skool Luv Affair, and Young Forever. (I'm guessing this is supposed to be a non-denominational version of a Christmas tree.) The base of the snow globe is black with a BTS logo in gold. It has felt fabric on the bottom to help keep it from slipping. Obviously, as it's a snow globe, fake white "snow" floats around as you shake it.

BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10 — Snow Globe
BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10 — Snow Globe

IT IS ADORABLE. And so appropriate for this time of year, especially when we just had a crazy snow storm last week. I honestly think a snow globe was the perfect choice for this quarter's merch box. It's simple but has just the right amount of charm and whimsy. People who are minimalists will probably hate this, but as someone who loves collecting BTS products and trinkets, I am TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT. 

BTS Global Official Fanclub — Merch Box #10 — Member Photocard Set

Of course, a Merch Box wouldn't be complete without photocards. (You know, I'm not sure when this really became a thing, but BigHit knows ARMY's obsession with photocards so they have to include them with everything now.) The ones in this set feature selfies of them during their photoshoot for Weverse Magazine (which was featured in Merch Box #8). 

Weirdly enough, this is my first snow globe, ever. I don't foresee myself starting a snow globe collection, but if BigHit decides to release an entire collection of BTS snow globes, I won't be able to help myself.

Unboxing: BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Box Set

(Warning: This post is long and photo-heavy.)

So, BigHit decided to release the box set for BTS' BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] three years later.

Initially, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself began on August 25, 2018, comprising of 42 arena shows across 20 cities globally. They added a stadium extension to the tour, called BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' that began on May 4, 2019, and concluded on October 29, 2019. (I went to four shows during this tour: Hamilton on September 23, 2018; Newark on September 29, 2018; and East Rutherford on May 18 and May 19, 2019.) In total, this tour was comprised of 62 concerts in 14 countries. "The Final" refers to the last three dates of BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' that were held at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul on October 26 - 27 and 29, 2019.

BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Digital Code Card

This set is available in three formats: DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Code. Note that the actual video content of the set is the same across all formats, but each physical set includes different items. I decided on the Digital Code format which enables streaming the video content through Weverse on PC, tablet, or phone, rather than using an external disc drive. On Weverse Shop Global, the DVD format retails for ₩49,000 or $45.52 USD each, whereas the Blu-ray and Digital Code formats retail for ₩59,000 or $54.81 USD each. This post will cover the Digital Code set only.

The BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code set is packaged in a purple outer box with light grey accents. (The packaging design of this set follows the previous two set releases from BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself', Sao Paulo and London.) The contents of this set are as follows:

BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] (Day 1)

1. Dionysus
2. Not Today
3. Outro: Wings
4. Trivia: Just Dance
5. Euphoria
6. Best of Me
7. Serendipity
8. Trivia: Love
9. Boy with Luv
10. DOPE
11. Silver Spoon
12. Fire
13. RUN
14. Singularity
15. FAKE LOVE
16. Trivia: Seesaw
17. Epiphany
18. The Truth Untold
19. Outro: Tear
20. MIC Drop
21. IDOL
22. Anpanman
23. So What
24. Make It Right
25. Mikrokosmos

2nd Day Solo Performances

1. Trivia: Just Dance
2. Euphoria
3. Serendipity
4. Trivia: Love
5. Singularity
6. Trivia: Seesaw
7. Epiphany

BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Making Film

• Practice Making Film
• Rehearsal Making Film
• D-Day Making Film
• Love Yourself & Speak Yourself Tour Highlight Commentary

BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — RM / Kim Namjoon
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — Jin / Kim Seokjin
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — Suga / Min Yoongi
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — J-Hope / Jung Hoseok
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — Jimin / Park Jimin
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — V / Kim Taehyung
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Photo Book — Jungkook / Jeon Jungkook
This set comes with a 192-page photo book that highlights all of the stages during the concert, including group, sub-group, and solo performances, as well as encore and backstage.

It also comes with a tri-folded, double-sided banner poster (one side is a panoramic photo of Seoul Olympic Stadium filled with ARMYs, and the other side features three photos of the members holding each day's fan banners); a set of seven member photo bookmarks (previous sets for this tour only came with one randomized member bookmark); and a randomized member photocard (previous sets for this tour didn't include a photocard).

BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Folded Banner Poster
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Member Photo Bookmark Set
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Randomized Member Photocard (V)
As I pre-ordered from Weverse Shop, I also got the pre-order gifts specific to the Digital Code set, which was one unreleased group photo ticket set (a double-sided "ticket" and holder), and one unreleased lenticular group photo stand.

BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Weverse Shop Pre-Order Gift — Group Photo Ticket Set
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Weverse Shop Pre-Order Gift — Group Photo Ticket Set
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Weverse Shop Pre-Order Gift — Lenticular Group Photo Stand
BTS World Tour: 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] Digital Code Set — Weverse Shop Pre-Order Gift — Lenticular Group Photo Stand
Note that the full concert footage in this set is the same as the livestream for Day 1 of BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final], which was available for purchase in October 2019 through BTS' V Live channel. If you had purchased that stream before, then you will also have the VOD available to you to watch any time, now on Weverse. (As Naver's V Live is being discontinued, you will have to transfer your account information from V Live to Weverse — it takes about 2 minutes, and all your purchased content will move automatically to Weverse.) However, the VOD does not include the bonus video content that is included in this set.

To be honest, I don't think BigHit originally had plans to release this as a physical set at all, just given that it was already released as a paid livestream event three years ago. Not to mention that this set was released after the Map of the Soul ON:E set, which took place one year later than 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final]. While this set was probably released as a cash-grab, it is great for those who didn't or couldn't purchase the livestream/VOD of BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' [The Final] when it was originally available in 2019, and for us collectors who actually wanted a physical box set (and bonus content!).