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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider BTS finishes 3-day 'Arirang' concert in Goyang: :'Thank you for your sincere support'

BTS finishes 3-day 'Arirang' concert in Goyang: :'Thank you for your sincere support'

Published Apr 13, 2026 09:57 am  |  Updated Apr 13, 2026 04:41 pm

K-pop superstars BTS thanked fans as they kicked off their “Arirang” world tour in Goyang, South Korea. 

BTS held the three-day concert at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12, drawing about 132,000 fans. 

The live viewing, a simultaneous broadcast in movie theaters in major countries and regions, was held and audiences from 194 countries and regions joined via online streaming on Weverse. 

After their opening performance, BTS said, “We released the album ‘Arirang” after about four years and are now on tour. We can hear your voices so clearly today, ARMY.”

At the end of the concert, BTS said, “Thank you for your sincere support. Although we are showing you many changes under the name ‘BTS 2.0,’ the most important thing has not changed.” 

“It is the fact that the seven of us decided to do this work together and our sincerity toward you. We will never take the hearts that filled this space lightly for even a single moment, and we will always proceed with humility, so please trust us and watch over us generously,” said BTS. 

They bowed and said, “We have many more stages to show you in the future. We will become singers who repay you with diverse and wonderful performances.”

The Goyang concert venue had a 360-degree open stage with unobstructed views in all directions and drew about 44,000 fans per show. 

BTS at their
BTS at their "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
The BTS
The BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
The BTS
The BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)

Stages featuring tracks from BTS’ fifth studio album “Arirang,” which embodies their roots and identity, blended with Korean-style staging to create a performance resembling a work of art. 

A pavilion reinterpreting Gyeonghoeru, a banquet hall in the palace Gyeongbokgung, was installed in the center of the stage. 

The stage floor incorporated the Taegeukgi (South Korean flag) motif, with the central symbol anchoring the stage, while extended runways draw inspiration from the Geongongamri (four trigrams), balancing symbolic meaning with functional design that brings the artists closer to the audience.

Pre-show LED videos are equally meticulous, featuring traditional Korean music (Gukak) and folk elements layered over hanji-inspired textures, creating an immersive introduction to Korean aesthetics.

Songs 

The main stage unfolded with Korean-inspired visuals. The performance of the track “they don’t know ’bout us” from “Arirang” incorporated modern reinterpretations of “Tal,” traditional Korean masks, through screen displays, while “Merry Go Round” featured fabrics inspired by the fluid, rhythmic movements of the traditional dance, Seungmu. 

Featuring the iconic folk song “Arirang,” “Body to Body” presented a Ganggangsullae (traditional circle dance) performance using LED flags and LED ribbons designed after sangmo (hat-spinning). These elements collectively reinforced the distinct identity of the “Ariang” world tour. 

The VCRs shown during the show also had symbolic meaning. The first video centered on seven elements—Heaven, Earth, Water, and Fire (represented by the four trigrams), along with Shadow (Yin), Light (Yang), and Purity—each linked to a member expressed through distinct visual forms. 

The production used massive fabrics, vivid lasers, rippling light, and fog to create an immersive experience. In addition to that, figures in blue and red cloaks appear to embody the image of the Taegeuk, Yin and Yang.

The second VCR was inspired by the Yeonriji (intertwined trees), a long-standing symbol of love and connection, conveying a message of unwavering bonds and emotional connection with the audience.

The “Arirang” produced departed from conventional concert formats, beginning with an unexpected, high-impact entrance instead of a traditional opening VCR. 

Jin at the BTS
Jin at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
J-Hope at the BTS
J-Hope at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
Jimin at the BTS
Jimin at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
Jungkook at the BTS
Jungkook at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
RM at the BTS
RM at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
V at the BTS
V at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)
The poster for the BTS
The poster for the BTS "Arirang" World Tour (Bighit Music, HYBE)
Suga at the BTS
Suga at the BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea (Bighit Music, HYBE)

This was followed by a surging, hooligan-like crowd that drove the atmosphere to a fever pitch. Simultaneously, the seven BTS members emerged across the stadium, focusing the audience's attention. This led directly into the performance of “Hooligan” from their new album, opening the show with a burst of explosive energy.

During “Idol,” the stage expanded to the stadium's track, featuring 50 dancers with traditional props including massive flags and LED ribbons for a grand parade. Through this effective use of the Goyang Stadium’s vast space, BTS delivered an overwhelming sense of scale.

BTS envisioned a concert that flowed effortlessly from beginning to end. To achieve this, transitional moments were carefully choreographed to maintain continuity, making even the in-between segments feel like an integral part of the show. 

After the sold-out Goyang shows, BTS will head to Tokyo Dome on April 17 and 18, continuing a massive 85-show run across 34 cities in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. 

This marks the largest tour ever by a South Korean act, based on the total number of dates. With additional shows in Japan and the Middle East already on the horizon, the scale of the tour is expected to expand further.

BTS “Arirang” Tour in Goyang Setlist 

1. Hooligan

2. Aliens

3. Run BTS

4. they don’t know ’bout us

5. Like Animals

6. FAKE LOVE

7. SWIM

8. Merry Go Round

9. 2.0 

10. NORMAL

11. Not Today

12. MIC Drop

13. FYA

14. FIRE

15. Body to Body

16. IDOL

17. Come Over 

18. Butter

19. Dynamite

20. Mikrokosmos (Day 1) 

Take Two (Day 2)

Spring Day (Day 3) 

21. I Need U (Day 1) 

DNA (Day 2) 

Run (Day 3) 

22. Please

23. Into the Sun

Day 1 of BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium (Photos: X/BTS, Bighit Music, HYBE)
Day 2 of BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium (Photos: X/BTS, Bighit Music, HYBE)
Day 3 of BTS "Arirang" World Tour at Goyang Stadium (Photos: X/BTS, Bighit Music, HYBE)

Related Tags

BTS BTS Arirang World Tour Goyang Stadium South Korea
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