BTS and Son Heung-min share shy, human moment in LA

Even BTS, who dominate the global stage, showed a momentary fan-like side in front of 'Captain' Son Heung-min. As the representative global group of K-pop and the symbol of Korean football gathered in one place, the unexpected shy behavior of the BTS members is drawing significant attention.

On the 11th, BTS released a video capturing their meeting with Son Heung-min via their official SNS, accompanied by the caption, "BTS, Son Heung-min, LA, Let's Go!". The video shows Son visiting the BTS waiting room ahead of their Los Angeles performance to greet the members.

From the first meeting, the atmosphere was friendly yet strangely awkward. When J-Hope greeted Son, saying, "I'm only meeting you now," Son replied, "But we've all met each other once before."

Given that BTS is a group that has interacted with famous figures worldwide, the members' cautious attitude toward Son was particularly eye-catching.

In particular, Jung Kook's reaction drew laughter. When Park Ji-min reminded him of their past connection by saying, "You saw him at the World Cup," Jung Kook recalled the moment and said, "Back then, everyone was just so huge."

Jung Kook's comment, remembering the overwhelming physical stature of the football players, naturally spread laughter throughout the scene.

Park Ji-min greeted Son more warmly, saying, "Thank you for coming, hyung." When Son responded, "Thank you for inviting me," Jung Kook expressed his determination for the upcoming show, saying, "I will work hard today."

This scene is interesting because both individuals are already global stars. On one side is BTS, which has expanded the horizons of K-pop in the global popular music market, including the Grammy Awards stage and the Billboard charts. On the other side is Son, who has established himself as a symbol of Korean football, moving through the English Premier League and now active in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

Even though two 'world-class' figures met, their attitude toward each other was extremely human. As if meeting a global star is a special event for a global star, the expressions and speech of the BTS members simultaneously conveyed a sense of subtle tension and joy.

RM presented BTS merchandise, such as clothing and hats, to Son. When Son showed signs of feeling apologetic, saying, "I came empty-handed," RM replied, "Just you coming is enough."

Despite being a meeting between stars, it created a humble atmosphere, much like a greeting between ordinary acquaintances.

Son did not stop there, suggesting a future meeting by saying, "Let's have a meal next time." BTS responded enthusiastically. Son, who took commemorative photos with the members next to V—who is known to be close with him—said, "I will cheer for you hard," while RM added, "We will also go to see one of your matches."

Part of the reason this meeting is perceived as even more special is the location, LA. In the summer of 2025, Son began a new chapter in his football career by transferring to LAFC after finishing 10 years of life in England with Tottenham Hotspur. On the other hand, for BTS, LA has functioned as one of the important hubs for their global activities since their debut.

In particular, this meeting took place as BTS was successfully concluding the North American leg of their 'Arirang' world tour. BTS held four performances at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on September 1, 2, 5, and 6, and all four shows were sold out.

The LA performances left a meaning beyond a simple tour schedule. Approximately 282,000 people flocked to the four performances, and including their 2021 performances, BTS has held a total of 8 performances at SoFi Stadium, making them the team that has held the most concerts at this stadium. The cumulative audience also reaches approximately 496,000.

The city of Los Angeles also celebrated the return of BTS at a city-wide level. They officially designated September 1 to 8 as 'BTS Week' and conducted large-scale welcoming events, such as lighting up City Hall in red, symbolizing BTS's 5th studio album 'Arirang.'

This makes the sight of the BTS members, who lead such massive stages, even more entertaining when they appear in front of Son. While they overwhelm tens of thousands of spectators in the stadium, they were captured in the waiting room carefully choosing their words upon meeting another superstar from a different field whom they have watched since childhood.

Son also did not remain solely in the position of a 'welcomed guest' in front of BTS. On the day of the performance, he was captured by cameras in the audience seats, and his face appeared on the large electronic screen. After smiling at the audience's cheers, he responded with his trademark 'camera' celebration.

For Son, the meeting with BTS is a special cultural moment encountered after starting a new life in LA. Leaving behind the symbolism he built over 10 years at Tottenham, he now wears the LAFC jersey and stands as a representative figure for Korea not just in football, but in the heart of American popular culture.

BTS also proved through these LA performances that the cultural influence of K-pop remains potent. This tour, which included 31 performances across 12 North American regions, was sold out for every show and drew approximately 1.92 million spectators. The four LA performances were also broadcast live to 177 countries and regions via Weverse.

Ultimately, the most interesting aspect of this meeting is the human attitude revealed between them, rather than the grand description of a 'meeting of world-class stars.' Even for global stars, meeting someone who holds a unique position in a different field naturally evokes respect, tension, and curiosity.

For BTS, it was Son, and for Son, it was likely the same for BTS. The sight of the seven superstars, who are more confident than anyone in front of tens of thousands, saying "Thank you for coming, hyung" to a single Korean football star, only serves to make the status of both names even clearer.

The meeting of these two giants, who promote Korea's name in different ways on the world stage, was completed in a much more modest way than a grand national-level event. Interest is now focused on whether they will truly meet again for a meal, or if BTS will be seen cheering for Son at an LAFC match.