BTS leader RM delivered a heartfelt message to fans.
BTS — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — opened the BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th. After kicking off the world tour on the 10th, the group will complete a three-day run in Goyang through the 12th.
BTS launched the new world tour as a full seven-member lineup for the first time in six and a half years. Leader RM said, "It took a long time. We are truly grateful for your patience and support. We released a song titled '2.0' and have been calling for change, but the important things haven't changed: the seven of us decided to do this together, and our sincerity toward you. I never took a packed arena for granted for a single moment. We'll keep moving forward with humility."
He went on, "When I first met Jungkook, he was 15; now he's 30. Jin was 20 then; now he's 35. These are decisions we've made together over 15 years as independent individuals, choices meant to help us keep doing this well for a long time. So please trust us a little more, be generous as you watch our changes, and enjoy them. We thank you, we love you, and we'll work hard."
The world tour will span 85 shows across 34 cities, beginning in Goyang and visiting Tokyo, North America, Europe, South America and other parts of Asia. It marks the most stops for a single tour by a Korean artist. Additional dates in Japan and the Middle East are expected to expand the tour further. BTS has already sold out 46 shows — including the three Goyang dates, Tokyo Dome and multiple North American and European dates — and in some parts of North and South America they will be the first Korean act to headline stadiums on their own.
After performing for roughly 132,000 fans over three days in Goyang, BTS will continue the tour at Tokyo Dome on the 17th and 18th.
TenAsia reporter Ji-won Kim
