The BTS ARMY have something to look forward to before the global pop group’s return as a full unit in June. Forever We Are Young, a documentary chronicling the ARMY’s passion and dedication, made its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, on March 10.
Directed by Grace Lee and Patty Ahn, who are ARMY themselves, the documentary explores the diverse BTS fan base from its early beginnings to its zeitgeist-changing identity nowadays.
Lee became an ARMY in Japan when BTS can be seen everywhere. Her parents were Korean immigrants and grew up in a Japan-colonized Korea. “[My mom] had to speak Japanese. So, it was so crazy to see Japan, and basically the rest of Asia, being colonized by Korean culture,” Lee shared.
Meanwhile, Ahn, a professor of K-pop, was introduced to BTS by a student, mainly the group’s song, “Spring Day,” which is about the Sewol Ferry Tragedy of 2014 that took the lives of 304 people, including 250 high school students.
Moreover, the documentary delves into the ARMY as more than just a fan base of young people passionate about their favorite band, tapping into the potential of a group of individuals trying to create change in the world around them. “There is something unique about ARMY and their commitment to social justice issues […] But because BTS’s message in their music is about social justice, caring for each other, mutual respect, [and] loving ourselves, it inspires a particular kind of culture of care,” Ahn added.
As of this writing, there is no official date for the documentary’s wide release.
The premiere of Forever We Are Young came just days after the announcement of two new projects: ‘7 Moments’ and ‘RUN BTS POLY HIGHLIGHT PACKAGE.’