Journalist
Joonha Yoo유준하
joonhayoo94@ajupress.com
ReporterCOEX Sejong Center for the Performing Arts & Music, Culture, Entertainment, Automotive
Joonha Yoo is a bilingual journalist at AJU Press (AJP), covering music, culture, entertainment and Korea’s automotive industry.
Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, he often writes from the scene, bringing firsthand detail to stories ranging
from BTS comeback concerts to unique cultural events that catch the world's eye. "I write from the scene, not from the sidelines."
Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, he often writes from the scene, bringing firsthand detail to stories ranging
from BTS comeback concerts to unique cultural events that catch the world's eye. "I write from the scene, not from the sidelines."
Latest by Joonha Yoo
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World Cup 26: Korea zooms up to 13th in The Athletic's reranking SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korea was upgraded to 13th in The Athletic's latest ranking of all 48 teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after opening the tournament with a comeback win over Czechia. The Athletic, the sports outlet owned by The New York Times, placed South Korea ahead of Uruguay, Senegal, Egypt, Belgium, the United States and Japan, despite the team sitting outside the top 20 in FIFA's official world rankings. South Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 in its Group A opener at Guadalajarff Stadium after falling behind in the second half. Ladislav Krejci gave the Czech Republic the lead, but Hwang In-beom equalized before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner in the 80th minute. The Athletic said South Korea had a shaky spell after going a goal down and needed key saves from goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, but added the team were "good value for the win." The outlet said the result left South Korea with "one foot in the knockout stages already." South Korea will next face Mexico at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT), Friday in a match that could help decide the top spot in Group A. 2026-06-17 09:29:35 -
K-pop sells out the world. Seoul can't always host the show SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - BTS returned to Busan on June 12 for the homecoming stretch of its "Arirang" tour, but the concert began about 75 minutes later than scheduled. HYBE later apologized, citing confusion in on-site guidance, bottlenecks in fan gift distribution lines and delays in merchandise pickup. Two months earlier, the same tour had opened on April 9 at Goyang Stadium, an open-air athletic stadium in Goyang, north of Seoul, where fans watched the show in the rain. Neither case was solely about BTS. Together, they pointed to a broader question facing South Korea's live music industry: whether the country's concert infrastructure has kept pace with the global scale of K-pop. Why Seoul keeps running out of room Seoul's largest venue for stadium-scale concerts, Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium, has been closed for renovation since 2023 and is not due to reopen until December 2026. Seoul World Cup Stadium, one of the few venues in the capital capable of hosting crowds of more than 60,000, has limited concert rentals because of concerns over turf damage. Gocheok Sky Dome, another major option, is largely unavailable during the professional baseball season, which runs from spring through autumn. That has left promoters competing for a limited number of alternatives, including the 15,000-seat KSPO Dome and Inspire Arena in Incheon. Industry officials have described the competition for available dates as a "rental war." The shortage predates the Jamsil closure. Korean pop music was not formally recognized by the state until the late 1990s, after decades of censorship, and investment in large-scale concert infrastructure came later than the industry's commercial rise. Land in Seoul is scarce and expensive, while major venue projects have often faced delays, cost pressures and administrative hurdles. Kim Myung-soo, head of the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association, has pointed to high construction costs, land shortages and limited administrative support as recurring obstacles to building large venues. Seoul Arena, a long-discussed project in Dobong District, was first proposed around 2015 and is expected to open in May 2027. Japan's dome circuit, China's access problem Japan offers a different model. Tokyo Dome, Kyocera Dome Osaka and comparable venues in Nagoya and Fukuoka give touring acts a clear circuit of dome-scale venues. Many are also embedded in districts designed to absorb large crowds. Tokyo Dome City, for example, surrounds the venue with a hotel, restaurants, shopping and direct subway access, making the concert part of a wider entertainment district rather than an isolated stadium event. Japanese concerts still face congestion, merchandise-line delays and hotel price surges. But the surrounding infrastructure gives organizers more room to manage crowd flow and gives fans more places to wait, move and spend time before and after a show. China presents a different contrast: substantial physical capacity, but uncertain access for K-pop. Beijing's National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, seats roughly 80,000, while Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai holds around 18,000. Yet no major K-pop act has held a large-scale concert in mainland China in nearly a decade, following the diplomatic chill that began after South Korea's 2016 deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system. Last September, the Dream Concert, billed as one of the biggest K-pop events China had scheduled in years, was postponed indefinitely in Hainan days before its scheduled date. A separate Kep1er concert in Fuzhou was also canceled the same month. Hong Kong has shown some signs of reopening to K-pop events, but mainland China remains uncertain. The money at stake South Korea's pop concert market set a record last year, with ticket sales rising 29 percent to approximately $730 million, even as some of Seoul's largest stages were closed for renovation, restricted from concerts or already booked. Promoters who have handled Asian tour dates for acts such as Oasis and Mariah Carey have linked the venue shortage to Madonna and Adele bypassing Korea in the 2010s. Industry figures have also pointed to Taylor Swift's 2024 Asia tour, which stopped in Tokyo but not Seoul, as another example of how venue limitations can affect Korea's ability to attract the largest global tours. The economic effect works in both directions. When fans travel abroad for concerts that skip Korea, related spending on hotels, dining, transport and merchandise goes elsewhere. When major concerts are held in Korea, that spending can move into local neighborhoods. Kim Hee-jeong, 62, runs a convenience store near Busan Asiad Main Stadium. She has watched the pattern repeat since BTS held its "Yet to Come in Busan" concert at the same venue on Oct. 15, 2022, a free show staged to support the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. "When BTS makes a comeback or holds a major concert, related collaboration products come in, and they clearly help sales," Kim said. "I can't put a number on it, but when that many people come to Busan, it has to be good for the city." The congestion outside the stadium this time, delayed entry, backed-up lines and long waits, did not change her view. For local businesses, large concerts are not only cultural events but also economic opportunities. A plan still mostly on paper The government has outlined a plan. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said in a December briefing that the government would first retrofit regional sports facilities for concert use, then rely on Seoul Arena and a planned Goyang Arena over the next few years before pursuing a purpose-built large dome. "We need to have a dome of 50,000 seats," Chae said, describing a venue designed from the start to host both sports and concerts rather than relying on retrofitted sports facilities. Skepticism remains. Seoul Arena has been in development for roughly a decade without opening, while CJ Live City, a comparable project in Goyang, has been stalled since construction was suspended in 2023. The venue shortage is also expected to tighten before it eases, with Jamsil Indoor Stadium set for demolition in July 2026 and the nearby student gymnasium expected to follow a year later. Korea has built a music industry capable of filling arenas from Los Angeles to London. The question now is whether it can build a venue ecosystem at home that can handle that demand with fewer bottlenecks, fewer rental battles and fewer nights that begin with fans waiting outside. 2026-06-16 17:34:10 -
K-pop boy band RIIZE release new album SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - A new album by K-pop boy band RIIZE is now available on major music streaming platforms following its release earlier this week, according to their agency SM Entertainment. "II" is their second EP, following "RIIZING" released in June 2024, and features six songs, including the title track "Do Your Dance," a dance song with the theme of moving with confidence and following one's instincts. The song's music video, directed by Jinuya, who previously worked with RIIZE on "Siren," "Memories," "Get A Guitar," and "Impossible," is also is also delighting their fans. The six-member group, consisting of Anton, Eunseok, Shotaro, Sohee, Sungchan, and Wonbin, made their debut in September 2023 with "Get A Guitar" and released their first full-length album, "ODYSSEY" in May 2025, which became their third consecutive million-selling album, followed by their single "Fame" in November the same year. In March this year, RIIZE appeared at Lollapalooza South America, becoming the first K-pop boy group to perform at the annual music festival. 2026-06-16 17:08:28 -
K-pop girl group I-dle's prerelease single 'Crow' enters charts SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - K-pop girl group i-dle's prerelease single "Crow" has entered music charts in Korea, China and other markets ahead of the release of i-dle's ninth EP, "We made," Cube Entertainment said Tuesday. The five-member group, consisting of Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua, released "Crow" on major streaming platforms on June 15. The song entered the real-time chart of South Korean music platform Bugs at No. 8 shortly after its release. In China, "Crow" topped QQ Music's daily best-selling digital singles chart and ranked No. 5 on Tencent Music's Korean music chart, according to the agency. The song also appeared on iTunes charts in 11 countries and regions, including Taipei, Hong Kong, Denmark, Mexico and France. It ranked No. 9 on Japan's iTunes K-pop songs chart. The music video for "Crow," released a day before the single, ranked No. 1 on YouTube's trending charts in Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom. The agency said the video also appeared on YouTube trending charts in 28 countries. The video ranked No. 2 on Chinese video platform Bilibili's music chart and No. 8 on Apple Music Korea's popular video chart. The full EP, "We made," is scheduled for release on July 6 at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT). 2026-06-16 14:33:13 -
Sejong Center to stage site-specific Schubert concert SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Sejong Center for the Performing Arts said Tuesday it will present a site-specific classical concert based on Franz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" next month, allowing audiences to move through the venue while listening to live chamber music. The concert, titled "Death and the Maiden Concert," will take place at 7:30 p.m. (1000 GMT) on July 27 at Sejong Center's Grand Theater in central Seoul. The performance will run for about 90 minutes. Unlike a conventional seated concert, the program will lead audiences through different parts of the Grand Theater, including staircases, the lobby and VIP rooms. The concert is part of Sejong Inspiration, a series of programs offering unconventional arts experiences at the venue. The program centers on Schubert's String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810, widely known as "Death and the Maiden." The quartet, composed in 1824, is closely associated with themes of death, fear and emotional struggle. In the first part, four string players will perform solo pieces in different spaces inside the theater, with audiences divided into groups and moving between locations. The performances will explore four themes: struggle, fear, madness and sorrow. In the second part, the four musicians will come together in the first-floor lobby to perform Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" as a full string quartet. The performers are violinists Lim Do-kyung and Choi Jung-min, violist Lee Hae-soo and cellist Hong Chae-won. Music critic Na Sung-in will give a lecture before the performance. The concert is designed as a prelude to Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's double bill "Death and the Maiden," which will run from Aug. 14 to 16 at the National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Grand Theater. Tickets are priced at 40,000 won, or about $26. Presales for members of Sejong Center's subscription and loyalty programs will open at 2 p.m. on June 22, followed by general sales at 2 p.m. on June 23. Attendance will be limited to 120 people. The concert is open to those born in 2013 or earlier. 2026-06-16 14:20:58 -
KOSPI higher while other Asian markets on hold on expected rate hike in Japan SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -South Korea's benchmark index maintained its upward momentum from the preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal, bucking a broadly cautious mood across Asia as investors awaited an expected rate hike from the Bank of Japan. As of 10:30 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI stood at 8,610.00, up 0.8 percent from the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 8,747.48 and a low of 8,540.41. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.9 percent to 1,372.00, after moving between an intraday high of 1,396.59 and a low of 1,357.84. Foreign investors bought 52.5 billion won ($34.7 million) worth of shares on the main bourse, as institutions purchased 210.9 billion won. Retail investors sold 266.3 billion won. Defense and aerospace shares led gains in Seoul, with the sector rising 9 percent. Firstec jumped 23 percent to 9,880 won, while LIG Defense & Aerospace surged 20.8 percent to 1,021,000 won. Hanwha Systems also advanced 7.8 percent to 107,300 won. Construction shares also rallied on expectations that reconstruction projects in the Middle East could gain momentum after the conflict. The construction sector rose 7.5 percent, led by Ilsung Construction, which climbed 30 percent to 1,677 won, and Sangji Construction, which gained 27.1 percent to 9,500 won. Among major construction names, Daewoo Engineering & Construction rose 17.5 percent to 26,850 won, while DL E&C gained 11.5 percent to 88,100 won. Trading companies and distributors also advanced, with the sector up 4.5 percent. POSCO International rose 6 percent to 63,700 won, while Hyundai Corp. gained 1.2 percent to 25,750 won. Large-cap technology shares were mixed. SK hynix rose 1.8 percent to 2,328,000 won, while Samsung Electronics slipped 0.2 percent to 336,500 won. LG Innotek gained 4.9 percent to 1,268,000 won. Other major names were weaker. Hyundai Motor fell 2.6 percent to 630,500 won, while HLB dropped 5.6 percent to 42,950 won. The TIGER U.S. Space Tech ETF declined 5.9 percent to 12,060 won. The secondary KOSDAQ fell 1.1 percent to 1,022.50, after moving between a high of 1,040.86 and a low of 1,016.39. Retail investors bought 333.5 billion won, while foreign investors and institutions sold 176.5 billion won and 145.2 billion won, respectively. The won strengthened 0.2 percent to 1,512.50 against the U.S. dollar, as the prospect of a peace deal lifted risk sentiment and eased concerns over oil supply disruptions. Oil prices edged higher Tuesday after tumbling nearly 5 percent in the previous session. West Texas Intermediate rose 0.5 percent to $81.10 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.4 percent to $83.50, as investors awaited further details on the agreement, which is expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday. The preliminary deal is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the free flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulf, though Washington and Tehran have yet to disclose the full terms of the memorandum. Shipping companies have remained cautious, delaying some vessels through the route until there is greater clarity. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.2 percent to 69,199.50, China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2 percent to 4,087.60, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.6 percent to 24,720.00. 2026-06-16 11:03:02 -
World Cup 26: Football migrates from TV to handheld screens SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - FIFA World Cup seasons once fueled sales of televisions and large screens as football watching became a collective event in living rooms, bars and public squares. That ritual is changing in South Korea. With most matches in the 2026 tournament being played across North America and kicking off during the early morning or daytime hours in Korea, football consumption is becoming a far more private experience, shifting to smartphones, chat rooms and creator-led communities. A World Cup match between Japan and the Netherlands drew 79,000 concurrent viewers on Chzzk, the streaming platform operated by internet giant Naver, early Monday despite a 5 a.m. kickoff and the absence of the Korean national team. The figure came three days after South Korea's opening 2-1 victory over Czechia generated a record 4.82 million peak concurrent viewers on Chzzk, more than six times the platform's previous high. Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the goals for South Korea. Together, the numbers highlight a broader shift in media consumption. For many South Koreans, the World Cup is no longer centered on the living-room television but on mobile streams, real-time chats and digital fan communities. Naver secured exclusive domestic new-media streaming rights to the FIFA World Cup from 2026 through 2032 through a deal with JoongAng Group, placing Chzzk at the center of online viewing for this year's tournament. The record audience for the Korea-Czechia match came despite its weekday morning kickoff, a schedule that initially raised concerns about lower ratings because of the time difference with North America. Instead, mobile-first viewing worked in Naver's favor, allowing people to watch while commuting, at work or away from home. The tournament has also become a monetization platform. Naver Plus Membership and Chzzk's ad-removal subscription provide full high-definition access to all 104 matches. In partnership with game publisher Nexon, viewers can participate in FC Online mini-games and earn in-game rewards, while a Coca-Cola-sponsored score prediction event offers prizes redeemable through Naver Pay. While Chzzk holds exclusive online streaming rights, SOOP, formerly AfreecaTV, has built its presence around creator-led "verbal relay" broadcasts that provide commentary without showing the match itself. Popular streamer Gamst attracted roughly 60,000 viewers during the Korea-Czechia match, underscoring how audiences increasingly follow personalities as much as the sport. The contrast reflects a structural divide in Korea's streaming market. According to mobile analytics firm Mobile Index, Chzzk led monthly active users in March with 3.06 million, ahead of SOOP's 2.37 million. But SOOP maintained a commanding lead in total viewing time, logging 42.5 million hours compared with Chzzk's 28.5 million, representing a 59.3 percent versus 33.4 percent market share. More users opened Chzzk, but viewers spent more time on SOOP. Kakao, meanwhile, has used the World Cup to deepen engagement within KakaoTalk's Open Chat service by creating cheering rooms, quizzes and fan tools designed to keep football conversations inside its messaging ecosystem. Kim Dong-heon, a 38-year-old office worker in Ilsan, said mobile streaming felt natural because it matched his existing media habits. "These days, I spend more time watching YouTube on my phone than watching television, so watching the match on my phone felt natural," Kim said. But he said streaming offered more than convenience. "Watching with streamers is a different kind of sports consumption," he said. "You are not just watching the match. You are talking with people, sharing opinions and reacting in real time." He said online viewing recreated much of the communal atmosphere of public gatherings without requiring fans to leave home. "Even if I went outside, I probably would not talk to that many strangers," Kim said. "Online, I can stay in my room and still feel like I am watching with a crowd." Traditional broadcasters JTBC and KBS remain the primary large-screen destination for households and older viewers. But the market has become increasingly fragmented. Audiences now move seamlessly between television, mobile streams and chat-based communities depending on the time of day, the device in their pocket and the kind of experience they want. For platforms, the competition is no longer simply about who shows the match. It is about who can keep viewers engaged after the final whistle. 2026-06-15 17:44:26 -
KOSPI and Nikkei up 5% as U.S.-Iran deal eases energy fears SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese markets roared Monday, gaining 5 percent on a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal snapped fears of a prolonged energy shock and triggered a broad risk-on rally across the region. The KOSPI jumped 422.36 points to close at 8,545.98. The index rose as high as 8,603.48 during the session after opening sharply higher, while its intraday low was 8,450.24. Foreign and institutional investors led the rally. Foreigners bought a net 985.9 billion won ($651 million) worth of shares on the main bourse, while institutions purchased 539.2 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 1.49 trillion won, locking in gains after the index's steep rebound. A buy-side sidecar was triggered shortly after the opening bell after KOSPI 200 futures surged more than 5 percent, temporarily halting program buy orders for five minutes. The rally followed news that Washington and Tehran had reached a tentative agreement aimed at ending months of conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 5.9 percent to $79.9 per barrel, while Brent crude dropped 5.2 percent to $82.8. Oil-sensitive sectors were among the biggest beneficiaries. Airlines jumped 10.7 percent, while the broader airline and low-cost carrier theme surged 14.2 percent. Korean Air climbed 12.8 percent to 30,000 won, as investors bet that lower fuel costs would improve earnings conditions for carriers. Large-cap technology and chip-related shares powered the advance. Samsung Electronics rose 4.5 percent to 337,000 won, while SK hynix gained 6.4 percent to 2,288,000 won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics jumped 16.6 percent to 1,999,000 won, and LG Innotek surged 16.7 percent to 1,209,000 won. The rally also spread to electrical equipment and components. LS ELECTRIC advanced 15.7 percent to 257,500 won, while Foosung climbed 17.8 percent to 22,400 won. SK Eternix rose 13.6 percent to 48,850 won. By sector, electronic equipment and devices led the market with a 13.4 percent gain, followed by airlines at 10.7 percent and electrical equipment at 9.4 percent. Not all stocks joined the rally. Hyundai Engineering & Construction fell 7.9 percent to 145,000 won, and Leeno Industrial dropped 7.4 percent to 96,800 won. Mirae Asset Venture Investment plunged 20.8 percent to 30,750 won, pressured by fallout from Mirae Asset Securities' failure to secure client allocations in SpaceX's blockbuster initial public offering. Mirae Asset Securities ended 1.7 percent lower at 51,400 won, underperforming sharply despite the broader market surge. The smaller-cap KOSDAQ gained only 4.98 points, or 0.5 percent, to finish at 1,034.03. Individuals bought a net 616.4 billion won on the KOSDAQ, while foreigners sold 816.6 billion won. On the KOSDAQ, hair-loss treatment shares rallied after the government signaled it may review possible health insurance coverage for the sector. TS Trillion hit the daily upper limit, rising 30 percent to 1,206 won. Withus Pharmaceutical jumped 22.8 percent to 8,180 won, while Innogene rose 9.2 percent to 1,583 won. The won strengthened slightly against the dollar, quoted at 1,514.6 won per dollar, down 0.01 percent from the previous session. Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 5 percent to close at 69,317.5, helped by strong gains in technology and semiconductor-related shares. The Shanghai Composite rose 1.6 percent to 4,096.5, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.6 percent to 24,858.24. 2026-06-15 17:20:40 -
BTS marks 13th birthday in Busan as fans celebrate group's post-military homecoming SEOUL, June 14 (AJP) - BTS returned to Busan this weekend not as a group preparing to disappear into military service, but as a global act celebrating its 13th anniversary with 110,000 fans at the midpoint of what is already shaping up to be one of the biggest tours in K-pop history. The sold-out two-night run at Busan Asiad Main Stadium drew a combined audience of about 110,000 and served as both a homecoming and a milestone for the seven-member group, whose "ARIRANG" world tour marks their first full-group global trek in nearly four years. The symbolism was difficult to miss. The concerts were held in the same city where BTS staged its "Yet To Come in Busan" concert in October 2022, one of the group's final major appearances before members began entering mandatory military service. Nearly four years later, BTS returned on June 13 — the exact anniversary of its 2013 debut — with a very different message: the world's most influential K-pop act is fully back. "ARMY enjoying themselves is the greatest birthday gift for us," Jin told the crowd as tens of thousands of fans joined the group in celebrating its 13th anniversary. For members Jimin and Jung Kook, both Busan natives, the concerts carried additional meaning. "It makes me so happy to be able to sing and dance with you in my hometown on such a meaningful day," Jimin told fans, while Jung Kook greeted the audience in Busan dialect, drawing one of the loudest cheers of the night. Throughout the nearly three-hour performance, BTS blended songs from its latest album "ARIRANG" with career-defining hits including "FAKE LOVE," "MIC Drop," "Fire," "IDOL," "Butter" and "Dynamite." A Korean-language version of "NORMAL," performed live for the first time, drew a particularly enthusiastic response. The production reinforced the tour's Korean identity. Traditional pavilion-inspired stage designs, reinterpretations of Korean masks, dancers creating a giant taegeuk symbol and mass singalongs of the folk song "Arirang" transformed what could have been a conventional stadium show into a broader cultural showcase. By naming the album and tour after Korea's best-known folk song, BTS has deliberately linked its post-military return to a form of cultural heritage that predates modern Korea itself. The group's commercial influence was equally visible across Busan. HYBE expanded the concerts into a citywide festival through "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," featuring drone shows over Gwangan Bridge, media-art exhibitions, pop-up stores and fan events stretching across the city. Authorities estimated that around 50,000 overseas visitors entered South Korea during the concert period, prompting special immigration measures at airports and ports nationwide. The second night's performance was also broadcast live to approximately 3,800 cinemas in more than 80 countries. Yet the weekend also exposed growing pains associated with mega-events of this scale. The first concert on June 12 began more than an hour late after crowd-management problems and delays in merchandise and fan-gift distribution. HYBE later apologized and pledged operational improvements before the second show. Accommodation issues also generated controversy in the weeks leading up to the concerts. Hundreds of complaints were filed after some lodging operators allegedly canceled reservations and attempted to resell rooms at higher prices, prompting investigations and consumer-protection warnings. The backlash eventually triggered an unusual civic response. Buddhist temples, churches, universities and local residents collectively opened hundreds of affordable or free accommodations to visiting fans, offering an alternative image of Busan's hospitality. For many attendees, however, those controversies ultimately became a footnote. What remained was the sight of 55,000 fans filling a World Cup stadium on BTS' anniversary, singing along to songs that have accompanied the group's rise from a hip-hop idol act in 2013 to a global cultural phenomenon. "Thirteen years have passed in a flash," RM reflected during the concert. "Wherever we are and whatever form we take, we'll continue trying to show you our honest selves. Please stay with us for a long time." For Busan, the concerts reinforced the city's ability to host one of the world's largest entertainment events. For BTS, they marked another milestone in a career that continues to expand even after military service. And for the tens of thousands of fans who traveled from around the world, the weekend served as a reminder that BTS remains one of South Korea's most powerful cultural exports — capable of filling stadiums, moving economies and turning an anniversary concert into an international event. 2026-06-14 11:49:29 -
BTS releases 'Come Over' as part of 2026 FESTA SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS on Friday released "Come Over," a track previously available only on the deluxe vinyl edition of its fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," BigHit Music said. The release is part of 2026 BTS FESTA, the group's annual celebration held around its June 13 debut anniversary. "Come Over" was included only on the deluxe LP version of "ARIRANG," which came out on April 3. Suga produced the track, with RM and J-Hope also credited on the song. BigHit Music described it as a pop track with the scale of a stadium anthem, driven by layered synthesizers and expansive vocals. According to the label, the song is about finding one's way back to "you" even in moments of uncertainty. The label said the message is addressed to ARMY, the group's fanbase. BTS will also released a latest LP edition of "ARIRANG" on Friday. The "613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl" including 16 tracks, among them the original album songs and bonus tracks such as "Voice Message: Love Song" and the Korean-language version of "NORMAL." During this year's FESTA, the group has released a series of anniversary content, including a family photo, a performance video for "Hooligan" and a new episode of "Run BTS 2.0," its long-running variety web series. BTS will hold two concerts at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday as part of its "ARIRANG" world tour. Saturday marks the group's 13th debut anniversary. Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, is the hometown of members Jungkook and Jimin. The group is also set to release the music video for "Merry Go Round," another track from "ARIRANG," on Spotify on June 19. 2026-06-12 17:14:46