“It all started with making apple pancakes…” – how the ARMY WORLD event was created (INTERVIEW)

You can find a Polish version of the article here: https://mysoseofundacja.org.pl/zaczelo-sie-od-robienia-racuchow-czyli-jak-powstal-event-army-world-wywiad/

On July 26 this year, we had the chance to witness one of the biggest fan events ever held in Poland. We’re talking about the ARMY WORLD, created by V-event. It was an emotional gathering of BTS fans, designed to inspire, unite, and deepen the shared passion for K-pop music and culture. From themed workshops to artistic exhibitions, each ARMY WORLD booth was unique and original, while the main goal remained unchanged: to build a strong, creative, and active ARMY community where every participant could find something for themselves.

I invite you to read the interview with the organizers of this extraordinary event.

Wiktoria: You created one of the biggest K-pop fairs of this summer – what does that feel like?

V-event: Now the emotions are slowly settling down, but we felt a lot of happiness and were very grateful that there was so much interest in the event. There was also a lot of stress to make sure everything turned out the way we had imagined. Until the very last moment, we were fighting to get every detail just right. At the same time, we feel the pressure to create something even better next time.

Wiktoria: Where did the idea for ARMY WORLD come from?

V-event: It all started with making apple pancakes. There’s really nothing more we need to add here, since the story has nothing to do with BTS – but that’s exactly what’s amazing about us.

Wiktoria: From the very beginning, did you plan for this to be a large-scale event, or did the idea evolve during the preparations?

V-event: At first, the idea was simply to organize an event for BTS’s birthday, but since their return from military service also happened around this time, we wanted to prepare something truly special. The concept kept developing and went through many changes. We held brainstorming sessions and picked out the wildest ideas! We knew it was worth investing our time because our whole team consists of K-pop fans. We just tried to create something we ourselves would want to attend.

Wiktoria: How long did you prepare for the event?

V-event: The preparations took a very long time, and we poured our blood, sweat, and tears into it – but we think it was worth it! We actually started working on it a year before the event, around May.

Wiktoria: Which personality traits of the BTS members inspired you to create the activities for their individual booths?

V-event: BTS is a group where each member has their own individual world, but together they form something beautiful.

Let’s start with the leader – RM. His fascination with books and his refined literary taste inspired this booth. By reading the books he recommends, you can get to know Namjoon better and see the gentleness of his soul. In this area, we received tremendous support from Karolina, who dedicated more time to this booth than we expected. We’re very grateful to her for that.

Jin inspired us with his love for cooking, which is why we created a booth featuring a Korean dish. Through flavors, we could travel a little and step into his role as a true food lover.

The most difficult booths to design were Yoongi’s and Jimin’s. We wanted people to immediately recognize who the booth was connected to, but of course, we couldn’t exactly organize a basketball game.

For Suga, we decided on something more content-driven. Here, Luicia helped us by taking the initiative to create a lecture. Through his songs, we can not only feel strong emotions and a sense of being understood, but also get to know Korea’s culture and history.

As for Jimin, we associated him with his big heart, so nothing could fit better for his booth than a charity fundraiser. He inspired us to do good. We wanted this booth to show not only that K-pop fans are passionate, but also that ARMY is a socially engaged and helpful fandom. We’re so glad it worked out, and we’re very thankful for the participants’ involvement!

Of course, we couldn’t leave out dancing together. J-Hope inspires us to express ourselves through movement. We believe this booth showed that everyone can find fulfillment in this way!

The theme for V was quite an easy choice. We associate him with Paris, museums, good music, and even fashion. He teaches us to express ourselves through art in its many forms. We wanted participants to experience exactly that at his booth. Thanks to our talented artists, a small but diverse art gallery dedicated to BTS came to life. Participants could also join workshops where they discovered their own inner artists. Together, we learned how to create collages – a simple yet often forgotten form of art. We took on the role of the designers, decorating our own eco-friendly bags.

It was difficult to create a booth that would clearly connect to Jungkook because he’s such a versatile talent. This time, we went for something full of energy. We encouraged participants to spend time with friends, enjoy outdoor games, and engage in a little friendly competition. We wanted to create a safe space for ARMY to have fun together – just like BTS in RUN BTS. Our goal was also to make the rules much simpler than in the original!

We also can’t forget about the ARMY booth, which is incredibly inspiring for us! It was created for the participants so that the event would also reflect what we had done before. We went back to our roots – meeting over bubble tea. That’s how we met most of our participants, who continue to inspire us to give our all. Thanks to them, we know it’s worth it.

Wiktoria: What guided you when choosing the topics for the event lectures?

V-event: To avoid repeating ourselves, we can honestly say that we wanted to create a small taste of what fans in Korea and America get to experience. Not everyone here gets the chance to join the activities organized by BTS’s label.

Wiktoria: What fan reaction surprised you the most?

V-event: Honestly, we don’t think there was such a reaction. Surprisingly, we didn’t really encounter negative comments, and we had a good sense of what people would enjoy. Although, the most common question that kept coming up was about BTS themselves – whether they would hold a concert or appear at the event.

Wiktoria: If you could add one thing to ARMY WORLD, what would it be?

V-event: If we could do absolutely anything, we would organize a BTS concert and a fan meeting at our event – though we’re still far from that (Hybe, our number is +48…).

But being more realistic, we hope to organize something even bigger in a larger space, with more guests. We’d love for it to be more diverse so that every participant can find something for themselves.

Wiktoria: Which moment of the event best captured the spirit of the ARMY community?

V-event: Definitely the Open Mic. Right after the event, we sent participants a survey, and this attraction was also their favorite moment of the day. Everyone was laughing and actively engaging with what others were sharing. Nothing was more fun than that.

Wiktoria: Did the event exceed your expectations in terms of attendance or atmosphere?

V-event: Absolutely! We didn’t expect such a large turnout, but we’re grateful for every person who came to have fun with us! The atmosphere was amazing, and we’re very happy that we managed to create a safe, comfortable, and joyful space together. We sincerely thank the participants for that!

Wiktoria: What would you like to say to the fans who attended your events?

V-event: First and foremost, we are grateful. This was our first edition, and it wasn’t without its mistakes and misunderstandings. At the last minute, we sometimes learned that something wouldn’t be ready for the event. And yet, the feedback was positive. That’s what motivates us – we now know what to improve, what fans expect, and how to do it better. The truth is, for a small company, every single participant means success for us, so we are truly thankful. We listen to what you share with us. Be patient, because we’ll come back with something even better!