Popular idol group BTS (BTS) is launching a full-scale overseas tour starting with a comeback show in Gwanghwamun. Foreign media have been competing to extol the value of "BTS nomics."
On the 21st, The New York Times (NYT) opened a "BTS return" column and extensively reported on BTS's comeback show held that day in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, "BTS comeback live: ARIRANG (BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG)."
According to The New York Times, BTS's Gwanghwamun performance was "a stage set in the historic heart of Seoul" and "a performance announcing the grand return of BTS, a key driver of Korea's soft power."
In particular, The New York Times emphasized that BTS used Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, a landmark of Seoul, as a backdrop, wore clothes by Korean designers and structured the album title around "Arirang," calling it "BTS's declaration about the place Korean culture and identity hold on the world stage" and "a moment that proves BTS's global stature and popularity."
The notable point is that BTS's overseas tour will officially begin with the comeback show in Gwanghwamun. In fact, BTS left for New York, U.S., through Incheon Airport today (22nd). They are going to hold "Spotify X BTS: swimside" in New York on the 24th in collaboration with global audio and music streaming platform Spotify.
Afterward, BTS will hold a solo concert, "BTS world tour- 'Arirang' in Goyang," at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi from April 9 to 12 and proceed with a full-fledged world tour. BTS's world tour has been called "BTS nomics" among foreign media, raising expectations for enormous economic ripple effects centered around areas near concert venues.
In particular, it has been compared to pop star Taylor Swift's world tour, the "Eras Tour." The NYT even predicted that BTS's world tour revenue could be similar to or exceed the Eras Tour's ticket revenue of $2 billion (about 3.013 trillion won).
BTS's world tour is scheduled to include a total of 82 shows so far. It is expected to draw an estimated audience of more than about 4 million people at stadium-level venues worldwide.
Actual performance fees, including stage costs, recorded 60 billion won last year, and online performance fees are also increasing. Netflix reportedly paid 10 billion won for exclusive live-broadcast rights to BTS's Gwanghwamun comeback show. The Gwanghwamun comeback show was just the beginning, and foreign media are focusing their attention and ears on the ripple effects of the main-game world tour.
[photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]