This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz CSR site at 2:51 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2026.
BTS will return as a "complete group" next month for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. Starting in Seoul on Mar. 21, they will meet fans in places including Goyang, Gyeonggi (April), and Busan (June). As a global group, there is also analysis that BTS's economic impact tops 5 trillion won a year.
This is why Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, said at a review meeting ahead of the BTS comeback event that "the return of the king is approaching," calling it "an event that the Seoul city government very much needs and should be grateful for."
The regions where the concerts will be held this time have special ties to BTS members. Seoul is the city where BTS served as tourism ambassadors. From 2017 until 2023, when enlistments began, BTS appeared in various promotional materials and helped promote Seoul to the world. However, none of the members are from Seoul. In remarks after being appointed ambassadors in the past, BTS once joked, "None of us are from Seoul, yet we've been named ambassadors," drawing laughter.
Goyang, Gyeonggi, where BTS will officially kick off the world tour, is the hometown of leader RM. While born in Seoul, RM is known to have spent his childhood and formative years in Ilsan, Goyang. He himself emphasizes that he is from "Ilsan." In a 2018 speech at the UN, RM said he was "born in a city called Ilsan near Seoul."
Busan, where the June concert is scheduled, is the hometown of Jimin and Jungkook. BTS plans to perform for two days, June 12–13. In particular, June 13 is BTS's debut day, so the two members will spend an even more meaningful time with fans in their hometown.
By contrast, there are no scheduled shows in the hometowns of the other members. Jin is from Gwacheon, Gyeonggi; Suga and V are from Daegu; and J-Hope is from Gwangju Metropolitan City.
In the past, BTS has held fan signings in members' hometowns, including Seoul, Goyang, Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju, but has not staged large-scale events. In 2020, they planned to take part in a performance organized by a terrestrial broadcaster in Daegu, but it was canceled due to the spread of COVID-19. At the time, the event was pursued as a "non-face-to-face online performance," not a large-scale concert.
Why is that? The entertainment industry pointed to a "lack of facilities." Outside the greater Seoul area, there are no venues that can accommodate large crowds.
An official at a domestic entertainment company said, "The lack of domestic performance venues is a chronic problem that dates back years," adding, "Compared with overseas, venues in the greater Seoul area have relatively small capacities, and in the provinces, such large-scale facilities are almost nonexistent."
Goyang Sports Complex, where the show is scheduled, can seat about 40,000 people. In Busan, while the exact location has not been announced, Busan Asiad Main Stadium is being mentioned because it can accommodate more than 50,000. In Seoul, the only place that currently holds more than 50,000 is Seoul World Cup Stadium. However, it is difficult to use properly due to turf damage issues. Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium, which can hold up to 100,000, is currently being remodeled. Gocheok Sky Dome holds around 20,000. However, all of them are "sports facilities," not dedicated performance venues, which is a limitation.
This is not the first time the shortage of large venues has been debated. Ted Chung, the vice chairman of Hyundai Card, known as a "big spender" in the domestic entertainment industry, has also pointed out this problem.
After attending Taylor Swift's show at the Tokyo Dome in Feb. 2024, he wrote on social media, "I wanted to hear 'Hello, Seoul,' but I came here and heard 'Hello, Tokyo,'" adding, "In the competition to book acts that even drew interest from governments, we couldn't even bring it up because we don't have large venues." Chung is well known for leading Korea's concert culture by bringing pop heavyweights such as Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars.
The government is also aware of the lack of facilities. Minister Chae Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism set the long-term goal of building a 50,000-seat domed stadium in a year-end policy briefing to the president last year. As a result, several local governments are now competing to host it. Will a day come when all BTS members can perform in their hometowns?