"The seven are strongest together."
'21st-century pop icon' BTS is drenching the world in the melody of "Arirang," and global media poured praise on the overwhelming performance that combined a genre-breaking new approach with Korean identity.
BTS raised the curtain on the spectacular opening of the "BTS world tour 'ARIRANG'" at the Goyang Sports Complex main stadium on the 11th and 12th. The show sold out as soon as tickets opened, drawing about 132,000 attendees over three days and proving BTS's unwavering draw. In particular, the staging that incorporated Korean symbols such as a 360-degree stage, Gyeonghoeru and Geongon-gamri was praised as reaching the pinnacle of artistic beauty.
On this, British music magazine NME gave nearly perfect ratings and praised, "BTS opened a new chapter with this performance." The outlet said, "Just as the new record 'Arirang' expanded the boundaries of genre, the stage also suggested a new direction that breaks away from the conventional framework of K-pop performances," and added, "It effectively connected the past and present and perfectly embodied the group's identity."
British broadcaster BBC also reported that it was "a performance that went beyond simply meeting global stars and reconfirmed the presence of a group loved by all." It cited the seven members' strong bonds and natural chemistry as core attractions and analyzed, "This camaraderie is the driving force that keeps the group at the top."
U.S. Billboard named the "Body to Body" stage the highlight of the concert.
Billboard said, "The fans' mass singing that rang out during the 'Body to Body' stage, which incorporated the traditional folk song 'Arirang,' was a special and intense moment that could only be felt at this concert." It went on to call the 'IDOL' stage "a moment that showed that Korean identity and global pop scale can coexist within a single frame."
Indian fashion magazine GQ India also applauded the full-group BTS's power, saying, "They captivated tens of thousands with irreplaceable stage dominance. They once again proved that the seven are strongest together."
After successfully finishing the Goyang performances, BTS will continue the world tour, stopping at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 17th and 18th and then touring 34 cities worldwide across North America, Europe and South America for a total of 85 shows.
[Photo] Big Hit Music (HYBE)
[OSEN]