Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate. I propose Boraday!
Every year, we celebrate days dedicated to love, family, and friendship — but what if there was a day that celebrated all three? A day for loving yourself, loving others, and remembering the power of connection.
That’s what Boraday is all about. 💜
Inspired by BTS’s Kim Taehyung (V) and his iconic phrase 보라해 (Borahae), meaning “I Purple You,” Boraday is a celebration of trust, love, and loyalty that endures — just like the color purple, the last color of the rainbow.
When Taehyung first said “I Purple You” during BTS’s 3rd Muster fan meeting in 2016, he explained that purple means “I will trust and love you for a long time.” Since then, the phrase has become a powerful symbol for BTS and ARMY — representing an unbreakable bond built on sincerity, compassion, and hope.
💜 What Boraday Means💜
Borahae combines two Korean words:
보라 (bora) — purple 해 (hae) — from saranghae (I love you)
Together, they form Borahae — “I Purple You.”
Over time, this phrase has evolved into something much deeper than a fan slogan.
BTS have shown us resilience in the face of hardship — from social pressures and mental health struggles to the challenges of being artists who stay true to themselves. Through their honesty, they’ve created a rare kind of connection between artist and fan — one that feels real, human, and full of love.
🌸 What Happens on Boraday 🌸
Boraday would be celebrated worldwide as a day of love, reflection, kindness, and empowerment.
Here’s how:
💜 Morning: Love Yourself
Start the day with self-reflection. Take time to rest, journal, or do something that nourishes your soul. Pamper yourself — not out of vanity, but out of gratitude for how far you’ve come.
💜 Afternoon: Love Others
Do something kind for someone else. Send a message to a friend, help a neighbour, volunteer locally, or donate to a cause. Whether it’s big or small, your act of kindness sends ripples through the world.
💜 Evening: Empower and Connect
Use your voice — for yourself or for others. Speak up for someone who needs support. Share stories that inspire change. Visit someone who feels unseen — young people, elders, or anyone who’s lost hope — and remind them they matter.
🌈 Why Everyone Should Celebrate
In a world that often feels divided or exhausting, Boraday reminds us to pause — to see each other again. It’s a day that celebrates both individuality and unity. It’s about embracing who you are, while also reaching out to others with love and understanding.
It’s a day that says:
You are enough.
You are loved.
You are purpled. 💜
So let’s make it official — every November 13th, the day purple you was first spoken, let’s celebrate Boraday, a global day of love, kindness, and hope.
Because as Taehyung said — “I Purple You” means we’ll love and trust each other until the very end.
And then, when the day is done- lets celebrate by sharing all the wonderful things celebrated.
That’s the holiday I would create, but why make it “just one day”, why have Boraday when you can live your Bora life everyday! 💜
Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?
When I first found these writing prompts, I promised myself I’d try to make each one – as far as possible – somehow BTS-related, because, well that’s what I’m and my blog is all about.
Now, if I had to choose one year of my life to relive, it would be 2019 without question.
From the very start, I decided it was going to be my “Yes Year.” I wanted to say yes to more adventures, yes to the things I’d been putting off, and yes to life in general. And honestly? It delivered.
Every year on my birthday, I wish for snow. And on the very first day of February 2019, just after midnight, I peeked out the window and — unbelievably — it was snowing. Actual, magical, real-life snow. I had to physically stop myself from waking the kids up there and then. Thankfully, school called a snow day, so we got to spend the whole day playing outside together.
It was also the day I learned never to take Louen’s creative suggestions too seriously because when he told me to use my glasses as decorations for our snowman, I said yes (it was the Year of Yes, after all). Let’s just say a heavy snowman head balancing on a wonky snowman body… didn’t end well. Luckily, I was collecting new glasses that afternoon anyway, so no harm done.
The year started with magic but it ended with change. I was made redundant that winter, and at first, it stung. But in hindsight, it was exactly the push I needed. It forced me to take stock, to chase something that was mine, and to rediscover what I was capable of. The new path I found since then has opened doors, helped me grow, and reminded me of my own worth.
But the real heart of 2019 — the reason it’ll forever be purple — was BTS at Wembley.
Two sold-out nights. I was there for both. And it was electric. The energy, the emotion, the love between the members and ARMY — it was like nothing I’d ever experienced. Their performances were beyond incredible; every note, every smile, every heartbeat felt alive. I’d already fallen deep down the BTS rabbit hole by then, but those concerts? They carved BTS a permanent place in my heart.
The camaraderie amongst army, the funny stories and anecdotes we still tell today, honestly it was amazing and more than just the memories. The little freebies I got from Wembley are still displayed in my Wembley frame 6 years later l, treasurer memories that mean as much as any expensive gift. And yes I know I moans about the freebies at Jin and some behaviours but that was one experience, I won’t let it affect my whole experience as all other times, that little experience of giving and receiving freebies amongst fans has been wonderful.
I also have a friendship that has gone beyond that initial first love for BTS. We are best friends, family and show up when needed. We chat shit, we talk families and children, get deep and take the piss as good friends do. Every day is fun and new and exciting and I’m thankful for the friendships I’ve made. It goes so much more than an online friend ship founded on BTS, we live and breathe the values they promote.
So yes, if I could relive any moment, it would be standing in that crowd again, singing, crying, laughing, and feeling completely seen.
But at the same time… as BTS told us “The best is yet to come.” And I believe that. With everything they’ve given us already — and everything still ahead — I wouldn’t trade the future for the past.
I know what you’re thinking, that’s a Roy Orbison song not BTS. And you would be correct but A love so Beautiful is also the name of the KDrama I am currently watching.
Or sort of rewatching but in Korean. I originally watched this drama a few years ago back when I was still trying to find my Asian drama happy place. I do still love a Thai or Chinese Drama but Korean is my favourite. I actually really do like the Chinese version.
The actress is also the main lead in Meteor Garden which is also another version of another of my favourite Kdramas Boys over Flowers… can you see a theme occurring. 🙈 If you want to know where this theme lead me, check out my Drama Showdown post.
Where am I now in the Korean A Love so Beautiful?
I am currently on episode 15, and clearly I know where this series is leading as I kind of already know the plot but in my defence they do sometimes change it up a little and go their own way so I’m still enjoying how it differs and how it’s the same to other incarnations of A love so beautiful.
What do I like so far…
I love the actors! They are young and sweet and have a good future ahead of them in kdramas I think. The main male lead is picture perfect Korean standards for handsomeness, but he also plays the aloof and kind of standoffish character with heart and warmth even though he isn’t meant to be so warm and friendly. I like that. Sometimes when they are too harsh, aloof and hands off, it makes me really question why the main female leads like him. But you can see he is sweet to her and is a good person and that’s what she loves about him.
Also side characters, you know I love a side character that deserves their own show! The best friends in this one are adorable and I would definitely like to see more of them.
And second male lead 😭 why are they always so special? When you know they aren’t going to get picked, which means they will be sad???? I want someone to come along and sweep Dae-Sung off his feet. He deserves so much more than second lead syndrome!!!!
What could I skip?
I adore some of the the teachers in this version and some are just weird. I could do without the weird teacher that walks around with a cane. It’s so old school L, out of place and I don’t even see him teach so what is he even doing there.
The girl bully storyline was also really random and sort of didn’t come to anything, she was there and was kind of irksome but didn’t really become the evil doer but was more of an annoyance for a little bit.
And finally, the whole student fancying the school nurse, I know it’s not reciprocal but it’s still icky! 🙈 I know it happens, hell I definitely had crushes on inappropriate people but now as an adult, it really gives me the ick to see it in school dramas! I know everyone has these crushes and it’s all part of growing up and at least they didn’t actually have a relationship like in some other dramas (pretty little liars I’m talking to you) so it’s ok grand scheme but it still makes me 😬.
I really hope she starts to see Jin Hwan in a beer light, he’s adorable if a little nutty and needy but he’s still super sweet.
No rating yet – a love so beautiful or a love doomed
I am excited to see if this blooms into a love so beautiful or rots like an old piece of fruit!
Why not join me in watching? You can catch up the whole series on Netflix.
This is Drama Showdown, where your favourite love stories go head-to-head across borders!
This round, three iconic dramas — A Love So Beautiful, Boys Over Flowers, and Playful Kiss — face off as Korea, Thailand, and China each bring their own twist to the same story.
I am currently deep in the Korean version of a love so beautiful! So my watch hasn’t quite finished but I know enough! But if you want to keep up with my review and how I might chance my mind, check out my drama reviews here.
Who nailed the chemistry? Who brought the chaos? And which country will walk away with the ultimate crown? 👑
Let’s find out.
Contenders — are you ready???
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 1: Chemistry
Question: Did the glances, tension, and comfort feel real—or like a bad acting exercise?
💖 A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Sweet, believable, and gentle—but a little too polite. Shen Yue carries most of the emotion while Jiang Chen stares from afar. Cute and nostalgic, more warm tea than whisky!
🇰🇷 Youthful spark with just enough flirty tension to make you root for them. The balance of heart and humour keeps it alive.
🇹🇭 Softer, slower, and more mature—like first love after homework. Dreamy but a touch distant.
💐 Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 Dylan Wang’s chaos meets Shen Yue’s charm—messy but magnetic. Even the second-lead spark feels real.
🇰🇷 Iconic? Absolutely. Romantic? Not quite. Lee Min-ho shines, but Jan-di’s spark never lights the fuse for me.
🇹🇭 Real, awkward, and human—two teens figuring out feelings rather than fairy-tale perfection.
💋 Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Light and bouncy; sincerity shines through the silliness.
🇹🇭 Flirty and natural, the most believable of the three.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round one?
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 2: Second-Lead Syndrome
Because sometimes the wrong boy steals the right girl’s heart.
A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Bo Song is the perfect nice guy—quiet loyalty, zero pressure, 100 % heartbreak.
🇰🇷 Woo Dae-seong is patient and pure, the human version of a warm hug.
🇹🇭 Kind, protective, and just there when it matters most.
Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 Lei (Darren Chen) makes heartbreak poetic.
🇰🇷 Ji-hoo (Kim Hyun-joong) is comforting but never burns for her.
🇹🇭 Ren (Win Metawin) gives quiet sadness with real depth.
Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Ah Jin is funny and emotionally open—the dream boyfriend prototype.
🇰🇷 Bong Joon-gu, loud and loyal, defines “golden retriever energy.” Super happy he gets a happy ending.
🇹🇭 King is caring and grounded but can’t outshine the main pair.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round two?
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 3: Chaos, Charm & Friendship
Because no drama survives without its chaos gremlins.
A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Pleasant classmates, but no scene-stealers.
🇰🇷 Friends bring warmth and mischief—real friendship energy.
🇹🇭 Balanced humour, strong heart.
Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 Bananas, bromance, and background drama—chaotic perfection.
🇰🇷 Iconic F4 energy; chaos wrapped in Gucci scarves.
🇹🇭 Tighter cast, every character counts.
Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Families steal the spotlight, sometimes cartoonish but cute.
🇰🇷 Comedy and heart in equal measure—pure comfort.
🇹🇭 More personality-driven, less slapstick.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round three?
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 4: OST (Vibes and Earworms)
Because the right song can break your heart before the dialogue does.
A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Sweet background tunes—pretty but forgettable.
🇰🇷 Cute, wholesome, classic comfort.
🇹🇭 Pop-indie sparkle that sets its own mood.
Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 Catchy but overplayed—brainwashing level: expert.
🇰🇷 Almost Paradise. Enough said.
🇹🇭 Cinematic and sleek—fits the emotional tone perfectly.
Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Energetic pop, light and cheerful.
🇰🇷 Soft, sugary nostalgia from the 2010 era.
🇹🇭 Bright and heartfelt—bonus points for Mike’s vocals.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round four?
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 5: Cringe Factor
Because every K-drama needs at least one “wait, what?” moment.
A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Too many heart eyes, not enough self-respect.
🇰🇷 Teacher with a cane. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
🇹🇭 Surprisingly grounded for a high-school drama.
Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 Rooftop brooding and mystery punishments—legendary nonsense.
🇰🇷 Helicopter finale. Iconic chaos.
🇹🇭 Still in school looking like 25 year olds? Sure. But cleaner overall.
Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Self-aware goofiness, not too painful.
🇰🇷 Proudly cringe, gloriously dated, pure fun.
🇹🇭 Sweet and modern—smooth delivery.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round five?
Drama Showdown
🥊 Round 6: Rewatch Value
Because some dramas are comfort food, others are one-night stands.
A Love So Beautiful
🇨🇳 Still sweet and nostalgic—a cosy rewatch.
🇰🇷 One-and-done, cute but light.
🇹🇭 Warm, polished, and worth a revisit.
Boys Over Flowers
🇨🇳 A joy to share and rewatch forever.
🇰🇷 The gold-standard comfort watch.
🇹🇭 Modern, stylish, still aging into a classic.
Playful Kiss
🇨🇳 Short, sweet, perfect weekend binge.
🇰🇷 Fluffy, familiar, endlessly rewatchable.
🇹🇭 Feels fresh every time—modern charm meets classic comfort.
What are the current standings for the drama showdown round six?
Bonus points for the Chinese version of Boys over flowers – Meteor Garden- for their truly beautiful dvd! It is sooo pretty and I think I need it. You can get a copy here, not cheap but oh so beautiful! What does all this means for the scores? Who will be crowned the first winner of the Drama Showdown?
🏁 The Final Bell
Six rounds. Three countries. Countless swoons.
💥 Korea brought the nostalgia, the feels, the blanket kicks.
💥 China delivered heart, cuteness and an adorable longing for first loves.
💥 Thailand brought the warmth, chemistry, and modern magic.
✨ Overall Winner: Korea!
If you enjoyed this quickfire commentary, check out my Drama Showdown video for the full chaotic play-by-play—complete with score counters, sparkles, and a few dramatic sound effects worthy of a final episode cliff-hanger.
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You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
I know the immediate go-to answers will probably be money, power, or success—but for me, it’s about happiness and adventure. I want to explore more of the world, collect travel goals and bucket list inspiration, and maybe add a touch of a BTS dream along the way.
So, for my three wishes, I want to give myself and my family some chances to experience more. My BTS dream would be to see BTS up close and personal and I’d like to have a little bit of money to help em do these things but I don’t need to be a millionaire.
So these are my choices:
Barricade tickets for BTS all over the world — the ultimate BTS concert experience! But for that BTS dream to come true, I need my other wishes too 🙈
My second wish would be to overcome my fear of flying—not just survive it, but actually enjoy it. It’s part of my self-growth journey and something that could open the door to so many travel goals and adventures. Currently I’m reading Flying with confidence, that my friend sent me to see if this help m me overcome my fear.
My final wish would be to have enough money—not millions, just a little breathing space. Enough to travel for concerts, take the kids on adventures, and give my mum that dream trip to Switzerland. Happiness doesn’t come from luxury—it comes from shared experiences, laughter, and seeing the world together.
Sometimes wishes aren’t about changing who we are—they’re about giving ourselves permission to live more fully.
✨ What would your three wishes be?
💜 This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only recommend things I love or genuinely find inspiring — thanks for supporting Hearts and Seoul! 🌸
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the person that comes to mind and why?
When I think of the word successful, the answer really depends on what you mean by it. what is success?
For some people, success might mean wealth, running a thriving business, earning promotions, or building something from the ground up. For others, it might be about love and connection, having a family, being surrounded by people who care about you.
For someone else, success might be finally getting that high school qualification at eighty years old. Maybe they already had a family, ran a business, and even became rich, but that moment — that personal milestone — is what made them feel successful.
Success can look like living in a house rather than on the streets. Owning a car. Having some savings. Being happy. Being kind. Being recognised for something you love doing.
When I think of success, I think first of my parents. Neither of them were highly educated, but both were incredibly smart, hardworking, and full of love. They were working-class people living paycheque to paycheque, but they raised four children to be good, kind humans. We were always fed, always had a roof over our heads, and they never fell into debt. If it weren’t for my dad’s health, they’d have grown old together in the same loving marriage they built from scratch and to me, that’s true success. Or for mum, it might even be getting to see Jin (at least one of the members of bts)!
But what success looks like for my mum isn’t necessarily what it looks like for me. Honestly, I don’t think you really know what success means to you until you’re older and can look back and reflect on what truly mattered.
One thing I know is that I’d love my kids to grow up to be kind, open, and inclusive adults. I won’t know for a while if I’ve succeeded in that, but that doesn’t mean I’m not successful in other areas of my life.
My husband, for example, is successful in so many ways. He’s built an amazing career in the Navy, helped us buy our home, and supported me and the kids every step of the way. But does he think he’s successful? Probably not yet, and maybe that’s part of it too. Success is always evolving.
It’s all subjective.
And now… onto my favourite subject.
When I think of successful people on a global scale, I can’t help but think of BTS.
Yes, they’re world-famous, incredibly talented, and have achieved things most people only dream of: awards, records, influence, wealth. But that’s not why I consider them successful.
To me, BTS are successful because of the connection they’ve built. They share so much of themselves with fans – their thoughts, emotions, insecurities, and growth – through their music and message, they’ve helped people from all over the world feel seen, supported, and inspired.
One of my favourite vlogs about BTS and ARMYs kindness
They’ve sparked kindness, self-love, and generosity in millions. You see it every day in the donations made in ARMY’s name, in acts of compassion, and in the friendships formed through their music.
Their success isn’t just measured in numbers, it’s in the lives they’ve touched and the hearts they continue to reach.
So yes, BTS are still evolving and growing, but to me, they’re already successful because they’ve managed to capture something far rarer than fame or fortune: they’ve captured hearts and souls (especially mine 💜)
“We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to ‘speak yourself.” Kim Namjoon, 24 September 2018, UN General Assembly
I never really thought about the principles I lived by. But I guess I wanted to be kind, open and honest as I could be. I wanted my parents to be proud and I wanted to live a happy fulfilled life and help people if I could. I guess I wanted to love myself for being me.
Then I had children, these little tiny people that depended on me for everything. And I realised they depended on me for learning too. How they should live their lives and what I wanted for them? So I still want all those things I wanted before but now I also want my children to see a good, kind person they can learn from, trust and be proud of. And more than anything I want them to be happy and to grow into kind, amazing people. I want them to learn to love themselves to. So I have to show them this every day. The scary part is I won’t know until they grow, so it’s just about us all doing our best.
Which takes me back to my love for BTS and all they stand for. We can only do our best, and we will make mistakes, I certainly have as a parent and I will continue to do so as we grow as parents, mothers, fathers, children, sons and daughters. We are all just trying our best to live kind, open and happy lives.
So, as I learn to love myself and grow as a person, as a parent, as a friend. I collect friends and memories and yeah, even principles. So I leave you with another wonderful and wise quote from that day that I still remember even now, and it still touches my heart:
“Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.” Kim Namjoon, UN General Assembly
The last weekend in September and the first weekend in October felt like stepping back in time — BTS Movie Weeks returned to cinemas, and for a few hours, we were all back together again. 💜
They’ve been replaying concert films from different eras — Epilogue: The Final (2016), Wings: The Final (2017), Love Yourself: Speak Yourself – Wembley (2019), and Sowoozoo (2020) — and it honestly felt like a mini FESTA celebration. Sitting in the cinema, hearing them sing together again, the cheers, the fan chants… it gave me that same familiar rush that makes my heart soar, lifts my spirit, and gives me the energy to keep on keeping on!
And I made little gifts for the people in the theatre, there was only about 17 of us so it was manageable and the best bit… it was almost the same people each week so we really felt like we experienced it together and they got a couple of a little freebies 💜
There’s something so comforting about reliving those moments on the big screen for BTS Movie weeks, though it also makes my heart ache a little — it’s been so long since I’ve seen them all together in real life. But I know I don’t have much longer to wait! My favourite part? Even though it was basically just me and two other ARMYs, hearing us break out into the fan chant during Mic Drop! I just know from outside the theatre it must’ve sounded a bit like a cult gathering… but I’m okay with that. 😄 Hearing those seven names chanted in rhythm is almost therapeutic.
Rewatching their performances and seeing them in their happy place on stage is still so powerful. Even after all these years, the love and excitement feel brand new to me.
I know it was as much for marketing purposes but BTS movie weeks was inspired! Reliving old concerts whilst we wait with bated breath for new and exciting times – genius level inspiration.
It wasn’t just a theatre experience — it was a reminder of how far I’ve come, and how far we’ve all come together. 💜 My heart still beats for BTS just as much as it did that very first day I discovered them.
I honestly don’t even know where to start – this was so much more than a concert. RUN Seokjin was an experience!!!
Our T-shirts and army bombs! T-shirts from Etsy and I made the decorations for our army bombs 😍
Jin really outdid himself, transforming what is usually a wonderful night of songs into something truly unforgettable. Yes, he sang – and he sang bloody beautifully – but he also gave us a journey: chaotic, wonderful, emotional, hilarious, and moving.
I went in mostly spoiler-free (not easy when people love to post everything online!) and I’m so glad I did. Experiencing it all for the first time, in real-time, made it even more magical.
The Journey Begins – RUN Seokjin (걸려 석진)
Super early train and the cafe lady took our first pic 😍
Me and Mum caught the early Wednesday train to London, checked into our hotel, and then made our way to the O2 in the afternoon to meet up with Lisa and Sharyn. Even before stepping inside, you could feel the atmosphere – ARMY everywhere, buzzing with excitement, trading freebies, chatting, and instantly bonding.
On the trainEscalator selfie
One of my favourite things about K-pop concerts is this community spirit – the way fans come together to create something bigger than just the show. (I’ll save my little rant about one sour experience for later, but mostly it was beautiful!)
Bloody brilliant seeing Jin plastered everywhere
We collected our banners and ARMY-time bits – everything so lovingly prepared by the fan organisers. Seeing Jin later acknowledge them during the concert made it all the more worth it. UK ARMY really showed up, and he seemed so happy with us!
A Note on Freebies 💜
A slight side quest/ interval before we get to the best part of the day.
One of my favourite things about K-pop concerts has always been the freebies. Fans spend time making little gifts — stickers, bracelets, photocards, slogans — and exchange them with others. It’s such a beautiful tradition, because it makes you feel part of something bigger, like you’re connected to strangers through kindness and creativity.
My little gifts with some stickers – a Wootteo keyring
But I do need to be honest — this time, it left a sour taste in my mouth. My friend had warned me that some fans had been a bit pushy and entitled about freebies, but I thought maybe she was exaggerating. Sadly, she wasn’t.
I’d made around 50 small gifts, and I was being intentional about who I gave them to — younger ARMY, men and boys, older fans, or people who looked like they might be on their own. It felt lovely to see their smiles, and it reminded me why I love this tradition.
But at one point, after I gave a gift to a lady in an amazing costume (who made both me and my mum laugh — she even gave me one in return 💜), another girl asked for one. Of course, I said yes. Then, within seconds, I was swarmed. Hands were shoved in my face, people tried to grab into my bag, and fans started demanding gifts. It was overwhelming, and honestly, scary. I don’t usually get too anxious in crowds, but in that moment I froze — and I ended up giving away the last of my gifts just to get out of the situation. Thankfully my friend noticed, pulled me away, and rescued me. But it meant I didn’t have any left to hand out inside the venue, which had been my plan.
I really hope this isn’t the future of freebies, because they’ve always been one of the most joyful, heartwarming parts of K-pop concerts for me. Freebies are gifts — not rights, not obligations, not something to be demanded. They should be about kindness, not entitlement.
And yet, even after that low point, ARMY reminded me why I still love this community. A lovely girl approached me afterwards and said she’d seen what happened. She admitted it had happened to her too, but she was so strong and calm about it — and then she gave me a little Jin “fake money” freebie. That small act of kindness meant the world, and reminded me that there are so many incredible, caring fans out there.
Pre-Concert Fun
Merch queue was not too bad in the arena! No guitar keyring for me though 🥲
After some food, drinks, and a bit of merch-hunting (lots had sold out, but Mum got what she wanted, which was my priority 💜), we headed inside to the arena for RUN Seokjin. The build-up before a K-pop concert is an event in itself – fans singing, dancing, chanting, waving lightsticks. Even the VCRs had us buzzing with anticipation.
Close up of our pretty army bombs
Then it happened. The lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and Jin appeared, pressing the big red button to kick things off – such a perfectly him way to start.
Waiting to startSending our love to Jin (and Lisa and Sharyn down in the extra extra good seats but they didn’t see us)
Run Seokjin the concert experience
I’ll never forget looking over and seeing my 74-year-old mum standing for the entire show – singing, cheering, shouting, even trying to join in the games in our very broken Korean 🫣😂. It was incredible.
Enjoying the pre show
Some highlights for me:
“Super Tuna” – chaos, joy, laughter. And Mum right there with us, loving it. Singing, dancing, shouting and just being in the moment! Pure immature fun!
“Spring Day” – a song that means so much to both of us. We hugged, we cried, and we sang our hearts out. Truly a moment I’ll treasure forever.
“Epiphany” – his voice was stunning, and when we all turned on our phone lights with the pink dot, it felt like we were all connected. A truly stunning show of pink love for our worldwide handsome. He completely owned the stage – powerful yet vulnerable.
And then there was the fun chaos of the Run Seokjin games. Somehow my favourite song ended up being the one chosen for the singalong speed change game. I went full out with the choreo – probably looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. Pure joy.
More Than Memories
I tried to take more photos and videos this time (usually I’m too lost in the moment), because I wanted Mum to have something to look back on. But honestly, the best memories are the ones we carried in our hearts that night.
This concert wasn’t just Jin shining (though wow, he really did!) – it was about connection, community, and joy. He gave us laughter, tears, energy, and beauty all wrapped up in one incredible night.
And sharing it with Mum, Lisa, and Sharyn made it even more special. We’ll be holding onto these memories for a very long time. 💜
What a brilliant day! RUN Seokjin the ep tour was everything and more!
After a long long day, we watched an episode of murder she wrote with a cuppa in bed and chatted all about what an amazing experience it was! Bring on the BTS tour next!!!!! 💜💜💜
If you liked here about this you can check out my other concert experiences and if you want to go right back to the beginning and see my first BTS concert experience you can find it here
So very late with this post! I thought I had pressed publish 🤦🏼♀️😅 So I saw Stray Kids live at Tottenham — and listen, I may not have walked away with crystal-clear videos or fan-cam-worthy photos, but I did walk away with a sore throat, aching legs, and a massive grin plastered across my face. Worth it? Absolutely.
Were my videos shaky? Yes.
This was pretty stable for me! Go me!
Were my photos blurry? Also yes.
Was I caught in the moment, vibing hard, and screaming “we do not give a f**!”* during Topline like my life depended on it? 1000% yes.
This is not a professional fan account. This is a chaotic, loud, joy-soaked real fan experience. Welcome to it.
💖 Why We Went: Friendship, Family, and Fangirls
Let’s start with the most important thing: I’m not the biggest Stay in the world. Neither is my mate. We know some songs, we love a concert, and we’ll always say yes to a night out — but we were there for our best friend.
She’s become like family. And she was there supporting her family — you know how I feel about BTS and the strength and happiness they give for me, stray kids also do this for people through some really tough times. So when this show came up, we didn’t hesitate. Friends become family. And family shows up.
And honestly? I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Even with the echo. (Talk about that later)
📸 What My Camera Captured vs. What My Heart Felt📸
Let’s be real for a sec — my camera roll from that night is an absolute disaster. Here’s the breakdown:
Blurry lightsticks? ✅ Unidentifiable limbs? ✅ 14 seconds of the back of someone’s head? ✅ A masterpiece shot of Felixs’ chest (maybe)? ✅
But none of that matters, because what I remember is the energy. The thunderous bass. The sea of glowing lights. The way the whole stadium screamed those chaotic lyrics back at the boys like our lives depended on it.
“We do not give a—!!
– Every Stay in unison, living their best life
🎆 Highlights: Bangers, Banter, and British Accents
🎶 Favourite Song of the Night🎶
Hands down, Topline. That moment where the entire crowd shouted the chorus? Instant goosebumps. SKZ knew what they were doing! The whole arena lit up like a volcano.
Also, shoutout to God’s Menu and Chk Chk Boom for bringing the chaos. Iconic. Loud. Unapologetic. My kind of night.
🎇 The 360 Fireworks:
We weren’t ready. Honestly, whoever planned the fireworks deserves a raise! They were non stop and all around us! It almost, almost distracted you from the main event! It felt like the entire universe was clapping back with light.
😂 The Harry Potter Skit:
There is nothing , nothing that brings me more joy than watching Korean idols doing fake British accents and pulling off wizard cosplay. Peak content. I’ll be laughing about that one until next year.
😬 Only Complaint? The Sound
Okay, here’s the honest bit: something was off with the sound. There was this weird echo-y vibe that made it hard to hear the talking segments, which was a shame especially when you’ve got some fans around you screaming during the talks like they’re auditioning for a banshee role in a horror film.
I’m all for shouting during songs, trust me, but when the boys are trying to speak, maybe just… respect the moment and let us hear them?
The sound mixing during the songs wasn’t always great either. The energy was still high, but I know we missed some vocals because of it.
Still. Even with the tech issues, it was wildly worth it.
🧢 Final Thoughts from a Loud, Blurry, Happy Tina
I may not have the fanciest videos or the best photos, but I’ve got this snap of me in a Stray Kids cap, feeling cool as hell and riding the high of a night filled with fire, laughter, and big-stage chaos.
That’s what concerts are supposed to be, right? Loud, imperfect, unforgettable.
Best video I have ever recorded! Facts!
So here’s to Stray Kids. Here’s to friends who become family. And here’s to shaky camera rolls full of joy. Would I go again?
