A massive gathering of BTS enthusiasts filled a stadium close to Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday to witness the start of the K-pop sensation’s highly anticipated global tour. After a break of nearly four years, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook returned to the stage to deliver a performance featuring a mix of their previous hits and tracks from their latest album, “ARIRANG” — their fifth album and the first release post their completion of mandatory military service in South Korea.
Despite the heavy rainfall, the stadium with a capacity exceeding 40,000 was jam-packed with fans on Thursday for the concert, which is the group’s first headline show since their Permission to Dance on Stage tour from 2021–22. The series of concerts in South Korea will continue until April 12, kicking off a global tour covering numerous dates across the United States, Europe, and Asia, with projections indicating the potential to generate significant revenue in the coming quarters.
The recent concert occurred shortly after BTS’s comeback event in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, where over 20,000 fans attended in person, alongside a larger audience watching the live broadcast on Netflix. All seven BTS members fulfilled their mandatory military service, with Suga being the last to be discharged in June 2025, serving in government-related facilities and organizations due to a shoulder injury, instead of traditional military camps.
In South Korea, all eligible men aged between 18 and 28 are mandated by law to serve up to 21 months in the military under a conscription system designed to deter potential threats from North Korea. The album “ARIRANG,” named after a renowned Korean folk song considered a symbolic anthem across the Korean peninsula, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, with the single “Swim” achieving similar success.
BTS, originally known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean, made their debut in June 2013 with the release of the hip-hop-oriented album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” Following three full-length projects, the group gained significant momentum with their 2016 album, “Wings.” The band’s breakthrough on the global stage occurred in 2017 with the chart-topping track “DNA,” marking them as the first Korean boy band to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
The ongoing world tour will proceed to Tokyo next, followed by stops in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia, with plans for performances in Australia in early 2027 and a final show scheduled in Manila, Philippines, the following March.