BTS has finally made a comeback as a full group with a brand new album. Currently, they are expanding their reach beyond South Korea, embarking on a massive world tour. Everywhere they go, they are generating immense popularity and becoming the center of global attention.
They kicked off the release of their new album, Arirang, with a live showcase at Gwanghwamun, which was broadcast worldwide on Netflix. However, due to overly strict crowd control by authorities, the turnout was lower than expected. This led many critics to harshly bash the group over the event.
The title track also sparked mixed reviews and fierce debates online. Interestingly, the reaction overseas was completely different from the negative discourse back home. Because the anti-BTS sentiment in Korea had grown so intense, it became a common talking point.
Some even went as far as to say that South Korea is simply too small of a vessel to hold a group like BTS. Many suggested that they should just stay abroad and focus entirely on overseas promotions. In fact, their popularity within Korea sometimes seems surprisingly modest compared to the explosive reception they get globally.
The scale of BTS’s popularity on their current world tour is truly on another level. It showcases a phenomenon that can rarely be seen in Korea, presenting scenes that are honestly hard to even imagine.
In Mexico, the President himself made a personal request to add more concert dates. When they finally arrived, fans gathered in the central plaza alongside the President. Witnessing tens of thousands of people gathered together in one place was a magnificent sight that left everyone in awe.
The title track, Arirang, has also created some astonishing moments. In Japan of all places, crowds of fans gathered and sang along to the song in unison. Hearing Japanese fans passionately chant the lyrics to Arirang was something no one could have ever anticipated.
Furthermore, every single city they visit on this tour goes absolutely wild. Even when they select smaller, less prominent cities, there always seems to be a strategic and symbolic reason behind the choice, whether in Mexico or the United States.
These host cities are screaming with joy due to the massive influx of tourists. In Mexico, locals joked that they have never felt safer, as the event generated an economic impact equivalent to half a year’s worth of the city's usual revenue.
On the Billboard charts, their song Swim captured the number one spot on the Global Chart for the sixth time. This breaks a long-standing record, surpassing Taylor Swift's record since 2006 for the most number ones. Even in today's changing music landscape, hitting number one on Billboard is a massive achievement.
It is said that securing a Billboard number one is enough to set an artist up financially for life. With the anniversary project celebrating BTS's debut just around the corner, it genuinely feels like Korea is too small for them, proving that focusing on global promotions is the right path.
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