[Photo Story] BTS Celebrates 13th Anniversary in Busan With 110,000 ARMY Members — Korean Fans Chant “Arirang” in a Roaring Singalong at the Concert

[Photo Story] After 13 Years of Storytelling, BTS Returns to the Night in Busan With 'Arirang'

In Busan’s Asiad Main Stadium, wrapped in deep darkness, 55,000 lights flared up at once, as if giving birth to a vast universe. This was the moment when 'BTS' returned with its world tour 'Arirang', marking its 13th anniversary since debut. It was their first reunion in 3 years and 8 months after 'Yet To Come in Busan', the group’s last stage before enlistment in 2022. In this overwhelming show that drew 110,000 people over two days, the eldest member 'Jin' did not hide his emotion, saying, “Fans’ joy is the biggest birthday gift.” For 'Jimin' and 'Jung Kook' in particular, Busan is both their root and their starting point. As if proving the arc of 13 years, their stage was recorded not just as a concert, but as a grand 'historic monument'.

[Photo Story] The Intersection of Originality and Evolution, 'World-Class' Becomes a Benchmark for K-Pop

On June 13, 2013, the cries of the boys that first took shape in a small practice room have now become a philosophy that cuts across the world. Leader 'RM' promised the unchanging essence at the center of an ever-growing K-pop industry, saying, “The 13 years of time pass by like a fleeting dream.” 'Jimin' invited an elementary school teacher and vowed, “I’ll repay it with a more perfect performance,” showing that even at the top, they keep evolving. Under a massive X-shaped stage spanning the center and an overpowering array of top LED screens, the opening track 'Hooligan', delivered in steady live vocals while holding a handheld mic and rocking along without wavering, was a clear 'absolute performance' that made it evident why they are among today’s best artists.

[Photo Story] “Welcome to Busan, Day!” A 'Global Festival' Crafted in the Most Korean Colors

“Welcome to Busan, Day!” When 'Jung Kook'’s rough yet warm regional dialect burst out through the speakers, the arena was engulfed by explosive cheers. This stage captured the moment when the most Korean aesthetics get transformed into global standards. From the opening that combines Korean traditional music with ink-wash painting to a performance that borrowed lines from traditional masks and the Seungmu dance, BTS turned their identity into stage art. In particular, the performance where the grand-sounding 'Normal' was rearranged and presented in a Korean-language version sparked a strong sense of connection with the fandom 'ARMY'. In the voices of the members delivering the overwhelming emotion of singing at home, there was a deep trace of 'the purity of artists' that they never lost even after taking on the world.

[Photo Story] 'Arirang' Forged by 55,000 Singalong Voices, a Vast Sail Heading for Europe

The highlight of the show was unquestionably the 'Boy To Boy' stage. As a massive flow of water cut across the sky, the sight of 55,000 audience members chanting the folk song 'Arirang' in one voice sent shivers through the crowd. Next, Korean traditional-music EDM 'Idol' burst forth, turning the stadium into a cauldron of a huge festival. Their unprecedented 'love for fans', proven by handing out signed cards and gifts to all 110,000 attendees, left multinational fans with an emotion they will never forget for a lifetime. After finishing a hot relay that ran from the new song 'Come Over' to 'Dynamite', BTS, which swallowed up the night in Busan, will head to Madrid, Spain, on the 26th, continuing the grand narrative of the 'Arirang' world tour on the largest scale in K-pop history.