A massive crowd of devoted BTS enthusiasts filled a stadium near Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday to witness the popular K-pop group launch their highly anticipated global tour. After a hiatus of nearly four years, RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook took the stage to perform a blend of their classic hits and tracks from their latest album, “ARIRANG” – their fifth album following the completion of their mandatory military service in South Korea. Despite the heavy rain, the stadium, with a capacity exceeding 40,000, was brimming with fans eager to catch the group’s first headline tour performance since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour.
The series of concerts in South Korea, scheduled until April 12, kick off a worldwide tour that will span multiple dates in the United States, Europe, and Asia, with industry analysts projecting substantial revenue potential in the hundreds of millions of dollars per quarter.
The Thursday concert came shortly after BTS made a grand return with a free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, attended by over 20,000 fans in person and many more who watched the livestream on Netflix. All seven BTS members fulfilled their mandatory military service obligations, with Suga being the final member discharged in June 2025, serving in government-related capacities due to a shoulder injury.
In South Korea, males aged 18 to 28 are mandated by law to serve up to 21 months in the military as part of a conscription system aimed at deterring aggression from North Korea. Their latest album, “ARIRANG,” named after a traditional Korean folk song revered as a symbol across the Korean peninsula, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, with the single “Swim” also claiming the top spot.
BTS, an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean, made their debut in June 2013. The group rose to prominence with their fourth album, “Wings,” following earlier releases including the hip-hop-focused album “2 Cool 4 Skool.” Their breakthrough on the global stage occurred in 2017 with the chart-topping hit “DNA,” making them the first Korean boy band to enter the Billboard Hot 100. This success was further amplified by their performance at the American Music Awards, solidifying their international fan base.
The band’s tour will continue in Tokyo before traversing North America, Europe, South America, and Asia, culminating in a show in Australia in early 2027 and a final stop in Manila, Philippines, in March of the same year.
