The group BTS successfully completed the first concerts of BTS world tour 'ARIRANG' at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex on the 9th and the 11th–12th.
Over the three performances, about 132,000 spectators gathered, and a live viewing simultaneously broadcast to movie theaters in major countries/regions around the world was held, and through the global superfan platform Weverse's online streaming audiences from 194 countries/regions joined.
The venue, centered on a 360-degree open stage with views in all directions, was filled to capacity with about 44,000 spectators per show, creating a spectacle. The stages of songs from BTS's fifth studio album "Arirang" (ARIRANG), which contain the group's roots and identity, were realized like works of art combined with Korean-style production. A pavilion reinterpreting Gyeonghoeru was installed at the center of the stage, and a protruding stage designed with the taegukgi's geon-gon-gam-ri motif narrowed the distance to the audience.
The concert overwhelmed the audience with bold productions that exceeded expectations. The opening was special from the start. BTS appeared among a masked crowd that surged out holding smoke grenades. They presented the new album tracks "Hooligan" and "Aliens," instantly turning the stadium into a festival. During the "Run BTS" stage, member Jungkook grabbed a flying drone camera with his hand and swept the stage in a first-person view, delivering the vivid heat of the现场 to online viewers. After the opening, the members said in emotional voices that the show was beginning, "After about four years we are releasing an album called 'Arirang' and going on tour. ARMY, we can really hear your voices well today."
Stages that blended Korean sensibility with modern sensibilities also stood out. In "they don't know 'bout us," dancers displayed images on the video equipment they carried that reinterpreted traditional masks, adding a sense of mystery. The new album's title track "SWIM" used large fabrics like waves, and "Merry Go Round," in which Seungmu's trajectory unfolded brilliantly, also seized attention. In "NORMAL," the silhouettes of the members on the LED spread like an ink-and-wash painting, reaching a pinnacle of Korean beauty.
The stages created together with tens of thousands of spectators were a spectacle. In "FAKE LOVE," the overwhelming cheering that seemed to engulf the stadium sent shivers through the crowd. "Not Today," "MIC Drop," "FYA," and "BulitAone (FIRE)" unfolded in succession, bringing the concert to a climax. Especially when the intense intro of "MIC Drop" rang out, the roar of about 40,000 spectators erupted like an explosion. The new song "Body to Body," which incorporates the folk song "Arirang," was also a highlight. A performance reminiscent of ganggangsullae, the global audience's chorus of "Arirang," and the dazzling wave of lightsticks came together to create a spectacular scene. In "IDOL," the members ran across the entire stadium along the track, making eye contact with audience members one by one, and they kept the energy going with global hits like "Butter" and "Dynamite." Multicolored fireworks continuously slashed the night sky, completing a fantastic festival.
At the end of the concert, BTS delivered an emotional remark: "We sincerely thank you for your support. We are showing many changes under the name 'BTS 2.0,' but the most important things have not changed: that the seven of us decided to do this together and our sincere feelings toward you. We will never take lightly a moment of the hearts that filled this space and will always proceed humbly, so please trust us and watch over us generously." Bowing deeply, they added, "There are many stages we will show in the future. We will repay you as singers with diverse and wonderful appearances."
The concert ended on a deep note with "Please" and "Into the Sun." Having successfully launched the tour, BTS will continue with 85 shows in 34 cities across Tokyo, North America, Europe, South America and Asia, starting April 17–18.
[Photo] Big Hit Music (HYBE)
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