“Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” is the septet’s first official book, and contains a chronological summary of their musical career as well as hints at their future endeavours, according to their agency BIGHIT MUSIC.
Crowds were kept away by heavy rain on Sunday morning, but some diehard fans braved the weather to gather in front of the Kyobo bookstore in Gwanghwamun, one of the biggest in Seoul.
Sri Lankan fan Lakshi told AFP that if her excitement were measured on a “one to 10 scale, then it is about a million”.
Aqilah, a fan from Malaysia, gushed: “I came here since 9 am and I finally got this book!”
The book, which is also being released in the United States, shot to the top of the Amazon and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists in May on the strength of its pre-orders.
It was co-written by South Korean journalist Kang Myeong-seok and members of the band, according to its US publisher Flatiron Books.
The release date of the memoir, July 9, is a nod to a significant date in the septet’s history: it is the day the megastars’ loyal international fan base, known as ARMY, first came into being 10 years ago.