K-pop megaband BTS rocked Goyang Stadium for a total of approximately 132,000 concertgoers for the first three concerts of its “Arirang” world tour, which kicked off in the northeastern city of Goyang, Gyeonggi, last Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Each performance was packed with 44,000 eager fans. The 360-degree stage was inspired by the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion of Gyeongbok Palace in Jongno District, central Seoul, resembling a work of art through its incorporation of Korean heritage-focused stagecraft.


“We prepared a lot to show you something new,” Suga said at the start of the night. “We made a lot of effort regarding the stage, the set list and every element of the performances. [The show] may feel a bit unfamiliar, but I hope that you’ll enjoy it to the end.”

The concert lasted two hours and featured 23 songs from the new album, including “Hooligan” and “2.0,” and their old-school hits, such as “Fake Love” (2018) and “Run BTS” (2022). The band also showcased new mashups of its songs, combining “FYA” and “Fire” (2016) and “Body to Body” and “Idol” (2018).

“Thank you for all your support,” the group said at the end of the concert. “We have rebranded ourselves under ‘BTS 2.0,’ but that does not change the fact that all seven of us are in this together.”

BTS will continue the world tour in Tokyo on Friday and Saturday.

The tour is scheduled to feature 85 performances in 34 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. The band will start its North American leg of the tour in Tampa, Florida, on April 25 and perform there on the 26 and 28 as well. It will then continue to El Paso on May 2 and 3.

BY LEE JI-WON [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]