Boy band BTS is set to receive an award from El Paso County in recognition of its contributions to the local community, ahead of its tour shows in Texas this weekend.

The El Paso County Commissioners Court adopted a resolution on Monday to present BTS with the “Estimado Amigo” award, which means “Precious Friend” in Spanish, and named the week BTS is expected to arrive “El Paso BTS Weekend,” BigHit Music said Tuesday.


The band is scheduled to hold two concerts at the Sun Bowl stadium in on Saturday and Sunday as part of its ongoing "Arirang" world tour.

El Paso officials highlighted the group’s role in boosting tourism and strengthening local pride through its performances. The social messages and public value embedded in BTS’s music were also cited as reasons for the award.

The shows are expected to have a significant economic impact. Local tourism authorities estimate that the two days will generate about $75 million in economic activity in the county.

Fan participation has also been notable. El Paso County shared that BTS’s fandom, ARMY, organized a fundraising campaign to light up the city’s landmark, “Star on the Mountain,” in purple, the band's theme color, for seven days from Tuesday to upcoming Monday.

The city had previously shown strong support for the band by illuminating the landmark in special lighting in January to mark the group’s announcement of the May concert dates.

BTS released its newest album, "Arirang," on March 20. The band kicked off the "Arirang" world tour in Goyang on April 9. The North American leg of the tour started on Saturday in Tampa, Florida. After El Paso, the band will perform in Mexico City on May 7 and May 9-10.


This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]