SEOUL (AP) - A massive crowd of BTS fans gathered at a stadium near Seoul on Thursday to witness the kickoff of the K-pop supergroup's highly anticipated world tour. The concert marked their return to the stage after a nearly four-year break, featuring members RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. They performed a setlist that included songs from their extensive catalog as well as selections from their new fifth album, "0ARIRANG," which is their first release since all members completed South Korea's mandatory military service.
Despite heavy rain, the fans filled the stadium, which has a capacity of over 40,000, for the concert. This event was BTS's first headline tour performance since their 2021 "Permission to Dance on Stage" tour. The South Korean shows, running until April 12, will initiate a global tour that includes numerous performances across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Analysts anticipate that the tour could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each quarter.
The concert came less than a month after BTS marked their comeback with a free show at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. All seven members successfully completed their mandatory military service, with Suga being the last to be discharged in June 2025 due to a shoulder injury that led him to serve in government-related facilities instead of traditional military camps. Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required to fulfill up to 21 months of military service as part of a conscription system aimed at deterring threats from North Korea.
The new album "0ARIRANG," named after a traditional Korean folk song that serves as an unofficial anthem for the Korean Peninsula, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Additionally, the single "0Swim" also reached the top of the charts, signaling BTS's continued commercial success.
BTS, short for Bangtan Sonyeondan or "Bulletproof Boy Scouts" in Korean, debuted in June 2013 and gained momentum with their 2016 album "Wings" after initially launching with the hip-hop inspired single album "2 Cool 4 Skool." Their breakthrough on the global music scene came in 2017 with the release of "DNA," which entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve this milestone. This success was further amplified by their performance at the American Music Awards, contributing to the growth of their international fanbase known as the "Army."
The band's world tour will next head to Tokyo, followed by stops in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. BTS is also scheduled to perform in Australia in early 2027, with the tour concluding in Manila next March. The global fan anticipation is high as BTS returns from their hiatus, and the tour is set to reinforce their status as leading figures in the K-pop industry.
