BTS Reunites for 'Arirang' World Tour Kickoff at Goyang Stadium

BTS concluded a three-day concert series at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium, marking their first full-group performance in over three and a half years. Drawing 132,000 fans, "BTS World Tour Arirang in Goyang" launched the group's "2.0 era" and their most extensive world tour to date.

Key Facts

• The concerts took place on April 9, 11, and 12, featuring a 360-degree stage designed with Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Taegeukgi motifs.
• Each session attracted 44,000 attendees, generating approximately 25 billion won (~$19.2M USD) in ticket sales despite heavy rain.
• The setlist featured tracks from the group's 5th full-length album, ARIRANG, with members wearing futuristic costumes.
• The April 11 performance was broadcast via "Live Viewing" to over 3,500 theaters in 75 countries.
• High-profile attendees included Kian84, Ko So-young, Jang Dong-gun, Tomorrow X Together, Stray Kids' Bang Chan, TWS, and Choo Sung-hoon.
• Leader RM performed on a palanquin-style mobile device due to an injury sustained at a Gwanghwamun event.
• Local demand reached capacity, with Goyang area accommodations reporting near-total occupancy.

Key Terms

• Arirang: BTS’s 5th regular album and current world tour title; features traditional Korean court music and instruments such as the daegeum and gayageum.
• BTS 2.0: A new era emphasizing the group's long-term commitment and experimental creative directions.
• Siren: A new nickname for Jin following his performance of "Like Animals," which trended globally.

Key Quote

"Since this was a decision made to do this work together for a long time, please trust us... the important thing is that all seven of us decided to do this work together." — RM

Next

• The "Arirang" world tour continues at the Tokyo Dome on April 17 and 18.
• The tour will include 85 performances in 34 cities across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
• This represents the highest number of shows for a single tour by any Korean artist in history.