- Total attendance estimated at 200,000 over two days; members surprise fans with handwritten cards.

BUSAN — “I don’t have a ticket, but I came all the way here just to soak in the atmosphere of the BTS concert,” said Shai, a 27-year-old fan from the Philippines, standing outside the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 13.

Shai, who traveled to Busan alone, quickly found companionship outside the gates. She befriended Quendy (28) and Ada (30) after hearing them speak Tagalog. Despite being locked out of the main venue, Shai remained ecstatic. “You can fully enjoy the energy even from outside the stadium. I know there are thousands of people out here just like us who came without tickets.”

The perimeter of the stadium transformed into a sprawling, vibrant global village, packed with tens of thousands of fans from every corner of the world. Among them was Kimberly, a 34-year-old fan from Jamaica, who caught everyone's attention wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok.

Kimberly, who had been touring Seoul and Daegu before arriving in Busan, specifically purchased the Hanbok at Seoul’s Gwangjang Market for this special occasion. Humming the melody of "Arirang" during her interview, she shared her deep connection to the band. “I’ve been an ARMY for nine years. I completely fell in love with their music, their unique personalities, and the overall vibe they create.”

A dedicated fan of member Suga, Kimberly has traveled as far as the United States and Singapore to see his solo tours. “But this is my very first time seeing BTS perform live as a full group,” she added with eyes full of anticipation. “I am so incredibly excited.”

A Massive Economic and Touristic Surge for Busan

The area surrounding the stadium was packed tightly, a stark contrast to its usual quiet weekends. With the 55,000-seat stadium completely sold out for two consecutive days, municipal authorities estimated a massive influx of visitors.

According to a Busan Metropolitan City official, the city has been welcoming over 40,000 foreign tourists monthly this year. "However, this two-day concert alone drew a staggering 110,000 people to the venue," the official stated. "When factoring in the tourists who traveled to the city without concert tickets just to be part of the festival, we estimate that around 200,000 domestic and international visitors have converged on Busan."

A Historic Milestone: 13 Years of BTS

The second day of the concert, June 13, held a profound meaning for both the band and the fandom, marking the official 13th anniversary of BTS's debut. This concert also marked BTS’s return to Busan after approximately three years and eight months, following their historic "Yet To Come in Busan" concert in October 2022, which supported the city's World Expo bid.

Busan holds an emotional place in the hearts of the fandom, as it was the final city where all seven members performed on stage together as a full group before embarking on their mandatory military services.

To show their deep gratitude to the fans who waited for their return, BTS prepared special surprise gifts for the entire audience. Inside each gift box, fans discovered handwritten cards personally penned by the members.

An Unforgettable Night: "Arirang" and Exclusive Premieres

The concert was meticulously structured around three distinct thematic acts: ACT 1 (BTS), ACT 2 (KOREA), and ACT 3 (ARIRANG). Even before the lights went down, the stadium was electric, with fans initiating massive stadium waves to build up the momentum.

As night fell, tens of thousands of official fan lightsticks—known as "Army Bombs"—synchronized via Bluetooth, illuminating the dark stadium in a ocean of dancing lights.

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers following the opening performance when Jimin, a Busan native, addressed the audience. “It feels absolutely incredible to perform in the very city where I was born,” Jimin shouted, beaming at the crowd. “Let’s let loose and have the time of our lives tonight!”

The setlist also featured major surprises that caught fans off guard. For the very first time, BTS unveiled the highly anticipated Korean version of "NORMAL," a track from their "Arirang" release. Additionally, the fan-favorite track "One More Night" was officially included in a concert setlist for the first time in the group's history.

As the night progressed toward its climax, an official from HYBE teased further excitement, stating, "We have prepared a deeply meaningful and very special finale specifically dedicated to the city of Busan at the very end of the show."

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