The group BTS decorated a new chapter in history in London, England.
BTS held the world tour 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN LONDON' at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in England on the 6th and 7th, interacting with about 130,000 fans. Tickets sold out as soon as sales began, and according to promoter Live Nation, this concert set the record for the largest audience per show at the venue since it opened in 2019.
BTS, who became the first Korean artist to enter Wembley Stadium in June 2019, proved their overwhelming ticket power once again in London, which they visited again after about seven years. The local reception was also passionate. Tottenham Hotspur called BTS "Pop Royalty," and the official Korean account posted a video showing the title track of their fifth full-length album, "SWIM," reverberating through the stadium to welcome them.
Over the two-day stage, the members poured out a variety of live performances and choreography, from new songs "Hooligan," "NORMAL," and "Body to Body" to global hits such as "IDOL" and "FIRE." After the passionate performance, BTS said they felt the emotions from Wembley Stadium seven years ago once again and thanked fans: "Thanks to your passion, we had a really enjoyable time today. Many memories of past performances came back, and we were once again surprised that 'London is such a hot city.'"
High praise also poured in from major foreign media. Rolling Stone UK and The Guardian both gave the highest rating of five stars. Rolling Stone UK praised, "BTS has reclaimed the throne as the world's biggest band," calling it a masterclass-level performance. The Guardian also called it an "incredibly enjoyable spectacle" and praised, "the power BTS holds is formidable."
The Times, which gave four stars, noted the production's massive scale and described their music as "both intense and addictive." It added that "the audience's heated reaction during the 'MIC Drop' and 'FYA' stages seemed to shake the stadium," vividly reporting the explosive atmosphere. NME showed great interest in the traditional Korean identity woven throughout the performance.
Meanwhile, having successfully completed the London performances, BTS is scheduled to take the stage at Allianz Arena in Munich on the 11th and 12th as the first Korean singers to perform there, continuing the European tour's momentum.
[Photo] BigHit Music (HYBE)
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