In a captivating tale of youthful enthusiasm and a determined quest to meet their idols, three 13-year-old girls from a state-run school in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, embarked on a daring adventure inspired by their unwavering love for the global K-pop sensation
BTS
. Fueled by their desire to meet the members of the Bangtan Boys, the trio meticulously planned a journey to Seoul,
South Korea
, where their favorite stars reside according to the PTI reports.
Equipped with smartphones and an abundance of passion, the girls delved into their research, considering sea routes from Thoothukudi or Visakhapatnam to reach the vibrant city of Seoul. Undeterred by the lack of passports and constrained by a tight budget, the young adventurers set out from Erode near Karur to Chennai with only Rs. 14,000 in their pockets on Thursday, January 4. Their ambitious plans took an unexpected turn, however, as their absence prompted concerned parents to file a complaint with the Karur police, triggering a statewide alert and a frantic search operation.
The trio's daring journey came to an end when they were discovered in Vellore, their hometown, bringing relief to their worried families. Subsequently, the girls were accommodated in a state-run facility in Vellore district, where counseling sessions were organized for both the children and their guardians. Despite the unusual circumstances, authorities noted the girls' impressive knowledge of BTS, evident in their attire, including shoes resembling those worn by the band members.
"We learnt that the girls knew the minutest details about the BTS band and the stars, the way they dressed and what not; they had bought shoes similar to the ones used by the pop band stars. It was very clear to us that they yearned for a life of dance and music," P Vedanayagam, head of Vellore District Child Welfare Committee said.
Following counseling, the children were successfully reunited with their parents and transported back to their home district via train on Saturday night. The story, which gained viral attention online, elicited a spectrum of reactions from followers. While some fans sympathized with the young girls, others expressed disappointment, particularly after learning about the challenging family situations. "The family background of the children too cannot be ignored. In the case of one girl, it was a single parent. Another girl's father is mentally challenged. The mothers of these girls work as farm labourers. They have little or no time to monitor what their children do and what they want."
Upon discovering the parents' challenges, members of the ARMY, BTS's devoted fanbase, initially expressed embarrassment and disappointment, suggesting that the girls might not be mature enough for such independent decisions. However, a shift in sentiment occurred as many netizens later empathized with the kids, recognizing the complexities of their family situations.
English (US) ·