Thousands of fans gather as BTS launches world tour after hiatus

Tens of thousands of BTS fans packed into a stadium near Seoul on Thursday to witness the K-pop phenomenon launch their highly anticipated world tour after a nearly four-year hiatus from live performances.

The seven-member group—RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—took the stage at the 40,000-capacity venue despite heavy rainfall, performing a set that showcased both their extensive catalog and tracks from their newly released fifth album, “ARIRANG.”

Dedicated fans traveled from across the globe, including Russia, the United States, and Brazil, to attend the event. Even those unable to secure tickets gathered outside the venue with umbrellas, hoping to catch the distant sounds of their idols performing inside.

For many attendees, the concert represented more than just entertainment. Kim Eunhee, who attended with her 30-year-old daughter, shared how the prospect of seeing BTS live helped sustain her through cancer treatment. “Even during my hardest times last year while fighting it, this was the one thing I kept waiting for,” she explained. “Coming to an actual concert venue and seeing them in person for the first time—it was just so meaningful.”

This South Korean leg of performances, which continues through April 12, marks the beginning of an extensive global tour that will take the group across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Financial analysts predict the tour could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each quarter, underscoring BTS’s extraordinary economic impact on the global entertainment industry.

The concert follows closely on the heels of the band’s comeback last month, when they performed a free show at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square to mark their official return to the music scene. This return was made possible after all seven members completed their mandatory military service required of able-bodied South Korean men between 18 and 28 years old—a national security measure implemented to counter potential aggression from North Korea.

Suga, the last member to complete his service, was reportedly stationed at government facilities rather than traditional military camps due to a shoulder injury. His discharge in June 2025 cleared the way for the group’s full reunion and the production of their latest album.

“ARIRANG,” named after a centuries-old Korean folk song widely considered an unofficial national anthem throughout the Korean peninsula, has already achieved significant commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, while its lead single “Swim” also topped the charts, continuing the group’s remarkable streak of international chart dominance.

BTS’s journey to global superstardom began in June 2013 when they debuted under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE) with their hip-hop influenced single album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” While they released three full-length albums in their early years, it wasn’t until 2016’s “Wings” that the group began gaining significant momentum in the music industry.

Their definitive international breakthrough came in 2017 when their single “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve this milestone. A subsequent performance at the American Music Awards further catalyzed the growth of their passionate international fanbase, known as “ARMY.”

After completing their concerts in South Korea, BTS will head to Tokyo before embarking on an extensive tour across North America, Europe, South America, and other parts of Asia. The group is scheduled to perform in Australia in early 2027, with final tour dates planned for Manila in March of that year.

The massive global tour not only represents a triumphant return for the band but also signals the continued worldwide appeal of Korean popular culture, further cementing K-pop’s influence in the international music landscape and BTS’s position as cultural ambassadors for South Korea.