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 took to the stage to deliver a performance that included tracks from their previous works and their latest album, “ARIRANG,” marking their fifth album release following the completion of their mandatory military service in South Korea.
Despite the inclement weather, a packed stadium with a capacity exceeding 40,000 attendees welcomed the group for their first headline tour appearance since the Permission to Dance on Stage tour of 2021-22. The South Korean leg of the tour, scheduled until April 12, serves as the launchpad for a global tour spanning numerous dates across the United States, Europe, and Asia, with analysts predicting substantial revenue in the hundreds of millions per quarter.
This concert followed closely on the heels of BTS’s return, celebrated with a grand free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square in front of over 20,000 in-person fans, while many more watched the live stream on Netflix. All seven BTS members fulfilled their mandatory military service, with Suga, the last to be discharged in June 2025, serving in government-related facilities and organizations due to a shoulder injury.
In South Korea, males aged 18 to 28 are obliged by law to complete up to 21 months of military service as part of a conscription system aimed at deterring potential threats from North Korea. Their album “ARIRANG,” named after a traditional Korean folk song considered a symbolic anthem across the Korean peninsula, soared to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, with the single “Swim” also claiming the top spot.
BTS, an abbreviation for Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean, made their debut in June 2013 with the release of the hip-hop-infused album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” The group gained significant traction with their 2016 album “Wings” after releasing three full-length projects. Their breakthrough moment came in 2017 when the track “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve this milestone. The subsequent performance at the American Music Awards further expanded their global fan base.
The band’s tour itinerary includes stops in Tokyo before traversing North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. BTS is scheduled to perform in Australia in early 2027, culminating with a final show in Manila, Philippines, in March of the following year.