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| Photo=BigHit Music |
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] It’s a celebration we share. We’re preparing with joy.
BTS kicks off their BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ at Goyang Sports Complex’s main stadium on the 9th, with additional shows on the 11th and 12th.
The world tour will span 85 shows across 35 cities — beginning in Goyang and continuing to Tokyo, North America, Europe, South America and other parts of Asia. It marks the largest number of dates ever for a single tour by a Korean artist. With extra performances planned in Japan and the Middle East, the tour is expected to expand further.
The set list will feature songs from the new release ARIRANG alongside long-running hits. Anticipation is high for the group’s high-impact performances on a 360-degree stage. Through their agency BigHit Music, BTS shared their thoughts ahead of the tour and highlighted what fans should watch for.
Q. How does it feel to start a tour again after a long break?
RM: I still can’t quite believe it. It feels like, before I know it, I’ll be on stage. Preparing a 360-degree show wasn’t easy, but once we begin, I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Above all, I’m excited to take the mic again and meet ARMYs around the world.
Jin: We all agree that concerts are the most important thing for singers. We can’t wait to meet audiences worldwide, and since this is our first world tour in a while, we’re eager to experience each region’s culture and concert atmosphere firsthand.
Suga: Since I was young I believed concerts were the most important thing for a singer, and that hasn’t changed. All of us are really looking forward to this tour. Please show us lots of interest and support.
J-Hope: World tours are always joyful. Because it’s a celebration we share with ARMYs around the globe, we’re preparing with bright, happy hearts.
Jimin: We’ve done many shows, but this tour will present a stage that’s completely different from before. It’s a big challenge, and I hope everyone looks forward to it.
V: Since it’s been a while, I worried we might have lost our edge, so we prepared all the more intensely. Please look forward to it — we want to show you everything we’ve put together.
Jungkook: I want to get on stage as soon as possible. I’m really excited, and the thought of meeting fans in person after such a long time gives me butterflies. We prepared hard and can’t wait to enjoy the shows together at the venues.
Q. What are the highlights fans should watch for on this tour?
RM: I’m most looking forward to the moments when we all move and jump freely together on stage. I want the entire arena to feel like one giant club. We made a song with that feeling in mind, and seeing it come to life will make me really happy.
Jin: The 360-degree stage lets us treat every direction like the front. It’s a format we haven’t tried much since a 2019 fan event. With the stage rotating — and us moving around it — fans will feel something fresh and different (laughs).
Suga: I’m most excited about the first moment we face the audience. The show includes a lot of theatrical production, so I think it’ll be visually engaging as well.
J-Hope: With a 360-degree stage, each song will carry a distinct atmosphere. I think that’s the biggest highlight of this world tour. The production will feel like watching a full theatrical show, and the Korean-inspired aesthetics are particularly intriguing.
Jimin: The moment I most look forward to is meeting ARMYs who have waited for us. Many of our recent stages focused heavily on performance, which limited some visual experimentation. This time, we’ve invested more in staging so fans can enjoy the show visually as well.
V: The songs, set list, direction and overall structure are all tightly put together. We’re confident and proud to present this show.
Jungkook: A 360-degree show brings its own worries — I’m anxious about making mistakes — but being surrounded by fans on all sides will make it more fun and special. There will be a lot to see, so please look forward to it.
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| Photo=BigHit Music |
BTS’s world tour — including three shows in Goyang, a stop at Tokyo Dome and runs across North America and Europe — has sold out 46 dates. In North America, BTS will be the first Korean act to play solo at venues such as El Paso’s Sun Bowl Stadium, Stanford Stadium, Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium and Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.
The group is also setting new milestones in South America. They will be the first Korean act to perform at Bogotá’s Estadio El Campín and Buenos Aires’ Estadio Único de La Plata. They will also hold the first solo concert by a Korean artist at Santiago’s Estadio Nacional in Chile.
Meanwhile, beginning on the 9th, the Patent Office’s Special Judicial Police for Trademark Affairs will run a public campaign near concert venues to crack down on counterfeit K-pop goods and promote respect for intellectual property. The effort aims to prevent distribution of products that illegally use artists’ trademarks and to encourage purchases of genuine goods.
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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