K-pop supergroup BTS said Thursday it is determined to deliver a fresh stage experience as it kicks off its first world tour after returning from a nearly four-year break for military service.
The new tour, titled "Arirang," opens at 7 p.m. at Goyang Stadium in the city just northwest of Seoul, in what is expected to be the largest concert series in K-pop history.
The three-night run marks the start of 85 shows across 34 cities worldwide, including Tokyo, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Toronto, Lima, Santiago and Bangkok, through 2027.
Staged mainly in stadiums and domes with 360-degree setups, the tour is expected to attract the biggest audience ever for a K-pop act. More dates will be added to stops in Japan and the Middle East, according to BigHit Music, the group's agency.
"It still does not feel real," RM, the group's leader, said in an interview with BigHit, released a few hours before the first night in Goyang. He noted that performing on the 360-degree setup came with new challenges but expressed eagerness to meet the band's global fandom, known as ARMY.
