K-pop group BTS has wrapped up their North American tour, drawing approximately 1.92 million fans.
BTS held their final shows of the North American leg of the 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN LOS ANGELES' at SoFi Stadium in California on September 1-2 and 5-6.
The tour included 31 performances across 12 locations, all of which sold out. BTS met with around 1.92 million fans in North America alone. The four concerts in Los Angeles were live-streamed on the global fan platform Weverse, reaching audiences in 177 countries and regions worldwide.
The Los Angeles shows attracted over 282,000 fans. Following four performances in 2021 at the same venue for 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA,' this tour marked a total of eight shows at SoFi Stadium, making them the team with the most concerts at the venue. The cumulative audience for these eight performances reached over 496,000, setting a record for the highest attendance by any group since the stadium opened.
Special moments marked the performances. The first show on September 1 coincided with Jungkook's birthday, while the final day on September 6 featured a pre-celebration for RM's upcoming birthday on September 12. Fans sang along to the birthday song, filling the venue with golden lights symbolizing Jungkook's solo album 'GOLDEN' and blue lights reminiscent of RM's solo album 'INDIGO.'
During the performance of 'Body to Body,' a track from their fifth studio album 'ARIRANG,' the Korean folk song 'Arirang' played, prompting fans to raise Korean flags in unison. Thousands of fans in Los Angeles enjoyed 'Arirang' while waving the flags.
At the end of the concert, the members expressed, "It feels surreal to be saying goodbye in Los Angeles when it seems like just yesterday we started in Tampa. Every moment has passed so quickly because we were so happy. We will cherish these moments."
They added, "We always feel grateful for the way you guide us on our path. We hope to remain connected forever, no matter where we are." On the final day, Jungkook showed a postcard he had drawn for the audience, saying, "I want to tell you that you are perfect to me."
Local media also took notice. Major outlets like the Associated Press and Billboard reported on the Los Angeles concerts, with around 40 media organizations covering the event. The Los Angeles Times described BTS as a "world-class pop artist," highlighting their influence.
Forbes covered the excitement that spread beyond the concert venue throughout Los Angeles. They showcased diverse audiences singing along to 'Arirang' and enjoying the performance while incorporating Korean elements like hanbok, taegukgi, and norigae. Promotions at local restaurants and shops, including those in Koreatown, were also highlighted.
City-level recognition followed as well. The city of Los Angeles declared September 1-8 as 'BTS Week.' A proclamation ceremony was held at City Hall on August 31, attended by city council members, the Los Angeles Tourism Board, and representatives from Big Hit Music. On September 1, City Hall was illuminated in red, the key color of the new album 'ARIRANG.'
Official events welcoming BTS also took place in other North American locations. Toronto designated August 22-23 as 'BTS Weekend' and temporarily renamed part of Yonge Street as 'BTS Boulevard.' In Illinois, August 27-28 was proclaimed 'BTS Day in Illinois' in honor of the Chicago concert.
El Paso County in Texas declared the concert period as 'El Paso BTS Weekend' and awarded BTS the 'Estimado Amigo' honor. In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore welcomed BTS with a video message, and in Mexico, they received an official invitation from President Claudia Sheinbaum.
After concluding their North American tour, BTS will head to South America. They are set to continue the 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'' in Bogotá, Colombia, on October 2, followed by performances in Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. This will be BTS's first visit to Colombia, Peru, and Argentina as a complete group.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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