BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA — A popular destination for BTS fans around the world is preparing to say goodbye. ZM-illennial, the Busan café operated by the father of BTS member Jimin, has announced that it will close in approximately one year, giving fans a final opportunity to visit a place that has become much more than an ordinary coffee shop.
The announcement, shared through the café’s official social media account on November 1, introduced a 365-day countdown. For many members of ARMY, BTS’s global fan community, the news is particularly emotional because the café has served as a meeting place where fans can celebrate Jimin, share memories and connect with fellow supporters from different countries.
Although the café has not disclosed the reason for its planned closure, its announcement has already placed the future of one of Busan’s best-known BTS fan destinations in the spotlight.
ZM-illennial Announces Its Final Year of Operations
The café delivered the news in a message thanking customers and supporters who have visited over the years.
“Starting from today, ZM-illennial has 365 days left with you,” the announcement said.
Rather than focusing only on the approaching closure, the café expressed hope that its remaining year would be filled with meaningful experiences and new memories.
It also thanked visitors who had travelled long distances to see the establishment, acknowledging the affection and support it had received from fans around the world.
The message did not provide a specific final operating date beyond the one-year countdown. It also did not explain why the business had decided to close.
That distinction is important. While the announcement confirms the café’s intention to end operations in 2027, the circumstances behind the decision remain undisclosed.
From MAGNATE to ZM-illennial: A Café With a Special Connection to Jimin
The establishment first opened in 2019 under the name MAGNATE before later becoming known as ZM-illennial.
Operated by Jimin’s father, the café gradually attracted attention from BTS supporters because of its personal connection to the singer, who was born in Busan. Fellow BTS member Jungkook also comes from the South Korean coastal city.
The café became a regular stop for fans visiting Jimin’s hometown, with its interior featuring BTS memorabilia, artwork of the singer and gifts sent by supporters.
Visitors could also browse merchandise, leave messages in guest books and, on some occasions, meet Jimin’s father, who has been known to welcome guests and sign autographs.
For international visitors, the attraction was not limited to the food and drinks. The café offered a physical place connected to a member of a group whose music and performances have reached audiences across the world.
Why ARMY Considered the Café More Than a Coffee Shop
For many BTS fans, visiting places associated with the group is part of a wider travel experience.
These destinations can include locations connected to the members’ hometowns, former workplaces, music activities and personal histories. ZM-illennial became one of those stops for people travelling to Busan.
The café also offered something that online fan communities cannot entirely replicate: the opportunity to meet other supporters face to face.
Visitors from different countries could share stories, take photographs, browse fan contributions and leave messages for Jimin. The result was a space where people who might otherwise never meet could connect through their shared interest in BTS.
An earlier feature by Eater described the café as a gathering place for international fans, with visitors travelling from different parts of the world and forming friendships through their shared enthusiasm for the group.
That community element helps explain why the closure announcement has resonated beyond the café’s regular customers.
Closure Speculation Resurfaces, but the Reason Remains Unconfirmed
The announcement has also renewed online discussion about difficulties reportedly surrounding the café’s operations.
Some reports have revisited claims by an overseas content creator that Jimin’s father had experienced stress involving the landlord and a nearby business. The allegations have circulated in connection with earlier disputes surrounding the establishment.
However, these claims have not been independently confirmed as the reason for the closure. Neither the café’s announcement nor its management has publicly established a connection between those reported issues and the decision to shut down.
For now, the only confirmed information is that ZM-illennial plans to end operations after its announced countdown. Any explanation beyond that remains speculation. chosun.com+2
BTS’ Global Influence Extends Beyond Music
The café’s popularity reflects the scale of BTS’ influence on tourism, entertainment and fan culture.
For years, supporters have travelled internationally to attend concerts, visit locations connected to the members and experience South Korean destinations associated with the group.
Busan has particular significance because it is the hometown of both Jimin and Jungkook. A visit to the city can therefore become part of a larger BTS-themed travel experience.
The phenomenon also extends beyond one café. Fan communities have helped turn music-related locations into destinations where visitors can exchange stories, take photographs and experience Korean culture.
WWC ONE MEDIA has previously covered developments surrounding the group and the wider K-pop industry, including Jimin’s “Like Crazy” reaching another major Spotify milestone, BTS’ return to the MTV VMAs spotlight, and the growing international demand for the next generation of K-pop performers.
The café’s story is another example of how the relationship between an artist and a global fan community can extend into real-world experiences far beyond music itself.
One Final Year for Fans to Make the Trip
With the closure announcement now public, fans who have not visited ZM-illennial may begin considering whether they can include Busan in their travel plans before the countdown ends.
The café has indicated that it intends to continue welcoming visitors throughout its remaining year. Its message suggests that management wants the final months to be remembered for the experiences shared with customers rather than simply the approaching end of the business.
Still, visitors should keep in mind that an exact final operating date and any special arrangements for the remaining period have not been announced.
For ARMY members who have already visited, the news may turn past photographs and memories into something even more meaningful. For those who have yet to go, the announcement creates a limited window to experience the destination.
The Bottom Line: A Busan Landmark Is Preparing to Close, but Its Memories Will Remain
ZM-illennial’s planned closure marks the approaching end of a café that became internationally recognised because of its connection to BTS member Jimin and the community built around his music.
Since opening as MAGNATE in 2019, the establishment has developed into more than a place to order coffee. Its memorabilia, fan gifts, guest books and personal connection to Jimin helped make it a destination for supporters travelling to Busan.
Now, with the café announcing a 365-day countdown on November 1, 2026, fans have approximately one year before the business is expected to close in 2027.
The reason behind the decision remains undisclosed, and speculation about earlier business difficulties should not be treated as confirmed fact.
What is clear is that the announcement has given ARMY one last opportunity to visit a place that holds special meaning for many supporters.
And as the countdown continues, one question remains: Will you make it to Jimin’s family café before its final day, or will the next time you hear about ZM-illennial be through the memories shared by fans who visited before it closed?
