Documentary by UC San Diego’s Patty Ahn Explores Global BTS Fandom

“There is no BTS without ARMY and no ARMY without BTS,” said co-directors Lee and Ahn in a joint statement. “We’re excited for audiences to go on an emotional journey and meet a fandom that made us laugh, cry and think.”

Filmed across the globe—in Seoul, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Lewisville, Texas—the film introduces viewers to a variety of BTS superfans, from a dance instructor who teaches only BTS choreography to long-time grassroots campaigners and attendees at a BTS “ReactorCon.” Rather than reinforcing stereotypes of pop fans as screaming teens, the documentary presents ARMY as intergenerational, culturally fluent and globally connected—a community whose creativity and collective spirit offers a counterbalance to social division.

Ahn, who uses they/them pronouns, is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Communication in the School of Social Sciences. A scholar-practitioner, they teach courses on global culture, media activism, documentary filmmaking and community-based storytelling—including a popular class on the history and global evolution of K-Pop.

Whether guiding students through case studies of emerging music groups or exploring how video, social platforms and audio can serve as tools for social change, Ahn brings both critical insight and hands-on experience to the classroom.

Ahn developed the “BTS ARMY” film with the help of many undergraduate students who have taken their course on K-Pop throughout the years, some of whom even joined as formal interns for the project. They said that the movie represents the students’ labor as much as their own.

Distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, “BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young” screens in select theaters on July 30 and the following weekend. Visit the film’s website for more information.