Jin has made his first public appearance following the completion of his mandatory service in the South Korean military, taking the stage Thursday (June 13) at the 2024 BTS Festa, where he personally greeted ARMY by giving hugs to 1,000 fans.

Held in Seoul in honor of the boy band’s 11-year anniversary, the event featured the 31-year-old K-pop star hosting his own offline event at Jamsil Arena, which opened with him individually welcoming each person in a long line of eager fans with a quick embrace or handshake. He later tested out new TikTok trends that went viral while he was away and sang his solo singles “The Astronaut” and “Super Tuna” — for which he performed the track’s second verse for the first time ever — as well as BTS’ “Moon” for the crowd.

The event came just one day after Jin officially completed his 18-month enlistment, during which he served as an assistant drill instructor. His bandmates RM, V, Jung Kook, SUGA, Jimin and J-Hope are all still performing their military obligations, but were granted leave to help commemorate their bandmate’s accomplishment Wednesday (June 12).

“I cried during the ceremony,” Jin said in a Weverse livestream later in the day. “But it was so fun for the last year and six months. It’s such a relief I met so many amazing people.”

None of the other six Bangtan Boys were able to attend the Festa, but they did each write letters to ARMY that were revealed at the event. Full-band activities are expected to start up again in 2025, and Jin’s presence at the anniversary party signals “the start of a highly anticipated next chapter for BTS,” according to a release.

Watch Jin hug fans at BTS Festa below.