A massive gathering of BTS supporters filled a stadium close to Seoul, South Korea, to witness the K-pop sensation commence their highly anticipated global tour. After a pause of almost four years, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook returned to the limelight to deliver a performance featuring a blend of their previous hits and tracks from their latest album, “ARIRANG,” the band’s fifth album following their completion of mandatory military service in South Korea.
Despite heavy rain, the stadium, with a capacity exceeding 40,000, was packed with fans on Thursday for the concert, marking the group’s initial headline tour appearance since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. The South Korean shows, scheduled until April 12, mark the beginning of a global tour spanning various dates across the United States, Europe, and Asia, with analysts projecting the potential to generate significant revenue in the hundreds of millions of dollars per quarter.
The event on Thursday came shortly after BTS celebrated their return with a grand free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square in front of over 20,000 attendees in person, along with numerous viewers tuning in to the live broadcast on Netflix. All seven BTS members fulfilled their mandatory military duties, with Suga, discharged in June 2025, serving at government-affiliated establishments and organizations due to a shoulder injury.
In South Korea, it is compulsory for all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 28 to serve up to 21 months in the military as part of a conscription system aimed at deterring aggression from North Korea. Their album “ARIRANG,” named after a traditional Korean folk song recognized as an unofficial anthem throughout the Korean peninsula, debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart, with the single “Swim” also claiming a top position.
BTS, an abbreviation for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean, made their debut in June 2013 with the album “2 Cool 4 Skool,” progressing to release three full-length albums before gaining significant traction with their 2016 release, “Wings.” Their breakthrough on the global stage occurred in 2017 when their track “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100, marking them as the first Korean boy band to achieve such a milestone. The success of the song was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further expanding their international fan base.
The band’s world tour is scheduled to head to Tokyo next, followed by stops in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. BTS is slated to perform in Australia in early 2027, with a concluding show planned in Manila, Philippines, in March of the following year.
