SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) - K-pop wonder BTS will drop its first-ever live album on July 18, capturing performances from their record-breaking world tour "Permission to Dance on Stage," the seven-member band's agency said Tuesday. The album features 22 tracks recorded between 2021 and 2022 in South Korea and the United States, including crowd-pleasers such as "ON," "FIRE," "DOPE," and "IDOL."
BigHit Music said the release is intended to bring back the energy of the concerts shared between BTS and their global fanbase, ARMY. "We hope this album serves as a reminder of the memories made during 'BTS Permission to Dance on Stage'. We hope every moment you shared with BTS will continue to shine in your hearts," the agency said.
The album comes as the group returns to the spotlight following their military service. Jin, the first BTS member to enlist, kicked off his solo fan concert tour with two performances on June 28 and 29 in Goyang, north of Seoul.
He sang 18 songs over two hours, showcasing his solo work and interacting closely with fans. Special guests joined him on stage, including solo artist YENA on the first night for "Loser (feat. YENA)" and Red Velvet's Wendy the following evening for a duet of "Heart on the Window (with Wendy)."
The group's full return is already stirring excitement. On June 21, the day SUGA completed his service, fans crowded the streets around HYBE’s headquarters in Yongsan, near central Seoul.
There was no official fan event, but the area became a gathering point. Cafes, convenience stores, and restaurants rolled out BTS-themed decorations and menus. A massive banner reading "We are Back BTS!!" was hung across the HYBE building. Life-sized posters of the seven members lined the area, and a large anniversary ad filled the underground section of Yongsan Station.
Online, fans from Japan, the U.S., Brazil, and elsewhere filled social media with messages like "Our BTS is finally coming back," using hashtags such as #BTSisBack and #방탄소년단전원전역.
Although all seven members have now completed their military service, BTS remained present during their absence with pre-recorded content and solo projects. Their last group release was the 2022 anthology album "Proof."
HYBE said BTS will resume group activities gradually in the second half of this year. Some media outlets have speculated that a major comeback concert could be in the works for early 2026, around the time of their 13th anniversary.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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