South Korean K-pop megastars BTS go kick off their world tour for Thursday, wey dem dey ride the momentum of comeback album wey top chart and landmark performance for the heart of Seoul.
The seven-member group—wey dem dey regard as the world biggest boy band—don take stage together for the first time last month after years-long hiatus wey mandatory military service cause, after dem release their latest studio album “ARIRANG“.
The performance, wey dem stage for the doorstep of historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, draw more than 100,000 fans to central Seoul, according to the group label. Netflix livestream attract estimated 18.4 million viewers worldwide, according to the streaming giant.
Tour wey many pipo dey wait for go span 85 shows for 34 cities worldwide. E go start for BTS leader RM hometown Goyang. Analyst dem dey talk say e fit be major money-spinner for BTS, even fit outdo Taylor Swift recent Eras Tour.
Their latest album “ARIRANG”—wey be the same name as the tour—don already cement their comeback success. Dem recently become the first K-pop act to top US Billboard 200 for two consecutive weeks with the album. Tracks also secure top spots across multiple Spotify charts, including Top Songs Global and Top 50 Global.
Many K-pop boy bands don face career downturn after completing mandatory military service, for inside industry wey competition dey fierce and momentum hard to regain. But BTS dey prove say that one no go be their case, according to American sociologist Sam Richards, professor for Pennsylvania State University.
“This one extremely significant for the future of K-culture and the nation of Korea because e mean say unprecedented growth for soft power go continue,” he tell AFP.
Behind BTS continued dominance na the strength of ARMY, wey dem widely know as one of the most organised fan communities for the world. The group official community for Weverse get over 34 million members, while their Instagram following pass 80 million.
“The guys build their following through social media and direct fan engagement before the industry fully understand how to do that, especially with platforms like Twitter and SoundCloud,” Jeff Benjamin, Billboard K-pop columnist, tell AFP.
“ARMY dem never make to feel like consumers, but like dem be friends and participants for BTS story, make the group rise feel personal to millions of pipo for way wey superstardom no dey typically resonate.”
Goyang, wey dey about 16 kilometres northwest of Seoul, don already turn to purple-lit celebration zone ahead of the concert. Landmarks like Ilsan Lake Park dey light up nightly as tribute to BTS and their global fanbase.
The shows go hold for Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12, with about 40,000 attendees per night—around 120,000 total.
“ARMYs, talk dey about rain for Thursday, the day of the concert, and now say I dey here for the venue, e feel quite cold!” BTS member Jimin talk for Tuesday for their superfan platform, ahead of the concert. “Make all ARMYs wey dey come to watch, dress warmly!”
Album “ARIRANG” wey dem bill as reflection of the maturing boy band Korean identity. E name after traditional Korean folk song about longing and separation, wey dem often dub South Korea unofficial national anthem.
Ahead of the tour, the group don move beyond themes of adolescent pain and internal conflict, enter “realm of looking more deeply” into themselves, according to Kim Jeong-seob, author of “The universe of BTS”.
Describing the tour as the start of “new chapter
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