[with ARMY ⑰] Born the Year BTS Debuted, One 13-Year-Old Is Just Beginning His ARMY Journey

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — At just 13 years old, Benjamin belongs to the first generation of fans who were born the same year that BTS debuted. Yet despite discovering the group more than a decade into their career, he believes their message of bringing people together is just as relevant today as it was when they first began.

Standing beside him outside Gillette Stadium was his mother, Maria, whose own journey into BTS came from an entirely different perspective. A former professional breakdancer and member of the New York City Breakers, she found herself drawn not only to the group's choreography but also to the sense of community she discovered within ARMY.

Benjamin explained that he first came across BTS through TikTok only a few months ago saying, "I think they were really funny and really interesting." He also explained that somehow he had just managed to find a way towards the group.

Although he initially watched their content casually, it wasn't long before he began listening to their music and connecting with the group's message.

"Their message about bringing people together and uniting the world... being able to share from Korea globally around the world is just amazing." The 13-year-old added that BTS has already inspired him to pursue his own creative interests, mentioning that the group had motivated him to try something new by singing and dancing.

For Maria, however, becoming a fan happened through her son. "Benjamin introduced me to another world," she explained. "Coming from a breakdancing background and living in the world of hip-hop, K-POP has been an eye-opener for me."

Beginning her dance career at just 12 years old, Maria spent nearly two decades performing professionally before eventually stepping away after starting a family she explained, "I toured the world with breakdancing and I'm part of the New York City Breakers."

With that experience came an appreciation for BTS' performances as she said, "Their choreography is amazing. Their togetherness is amazing. Their unity is amazing."

Benjamin laughed that his mother's favorite member quickly became obvious once she saw BTS perform live. "She always talks about how J-Hope dances," he said. "During the first day of the Metlife show, she couldn't stop looking at him. No matter where he was, she managed to find him."

While BTS' performances initially impressed Maria, she said it was the fandom that surprised her most. "Everybody is giving things away, making things for one another and sharing that same love," she said. "It's amazing."

She believes that sense of belonging within the fandom is especially valuable for teenagers like Benjamin as she shared that being a teenager in today's day and age is really hard. "I have three boys, and just seeing all these different people (ARMY) come together for one common good... whatever you're going through, you forget. It's euphoric."

Reflecting on their experience attending BTS' MetLife Stadium concert together, Maria recalled leaving with a renewed sense of positivity. "We left happy," she said. "The message they bring to everybody is amazing."

Benjamin admitted that not many of his classmates listen to K-POP, with most of the friends he has made through the genre coming from concerts themselves. Even so, he hopes BTS continue doing exactly what they have always done.

"Keep going and keep making people happy."

For both mother and son, BTS became more than just another artist. For Benjamin, they opened the door to music, dance and a global community he had only recently discovered. For Maria, they offered a reminder that no matter the generation or genre, great performers have the ability to bring people together both on stage and long after the music ends.