BTS members J-Hope (from left), Jin, V, RM, Suga, Jungkook, and Jimin engage with global ARMY at the BTS World Tour Arirang in Busan concert at Asiad Main Stadium in Yeonje District, Busan, on the 13th. /Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC (HYBE)

BTS, which has cemented its status as a global pop icon, shared a moment of Hwanhee with Korean fans on the meaningful day marking the group's 13th debut anniversary.

BTS met with about 55,000 members of its fandom, Army, who packed Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the afternoon of the 13th for the World Tour "Arirang (ARIRANG)." Including the previous day's show, they drew a total of 110,000 spectators over the weekend, and on stage they could not hide their emotion as they listened to fans sing happy birthday.

They said, "We've spent 13 years together (as members), and all of this is because of you. Thanks to you, we were able to endure well for a long time," adding, "We sincerely thank you, Army."

They also added, "When we went overseas, we felt we were receiving passionate love," while noting, "The seven of us in BTS are Korean. Nothing is better than performing in Korea. Performing in my country, on my land, in my city is the most enjoyable. Please love us that much in return."

BTS present a fantastic performance at the BTS World Tour Arirang in Busan concert at Asiad Main Stadium in Yeonje District, Busan, on the 13th. /Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC (HYBE)

The Busan show carried extra meaning as the hometown of members Jimin and Jungkook, and fans felt it all the more deeply as it marked their return to a Busan stage 3 years and 8 months after their last full-group concert before enlisting in Oct. 2022.

At the first show the previous day, an operational issue on site caused the start to be delayed by about 75 minutes beyond schedule, and on this day the curtain likewise rose about 20 minutes late, extending the audience's wait. The members, however, poured out even more explosive energy on stage as if to make up for it, wiping away fans' disappointment.

As in the Goyang show, BTS opened with the "Hooligan" performance, featuring dancers carrying smoke canisters across the venue, then belted out tracks from the 5th full-length album "Arirang (ARIRANG)" and past hits including "Aliens," "Run BTS," "Like Animals," "FAKE LOVE," and "SWIM."

BTS is conducting a world tour of 86 shows across 34 cities. With the Busan concert, they successfully wrapped their Korea schedule and are set to embark on a full-fledged push into Europe, starting in Madrid, Spain, on the 26th.

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