K-pop phenomenon BTS returned to the stage Thursday, opening their long-awaited comeback world tour after a four-year break. Despite heavy rain, more than 40,000 fans gathered outside Seoul to see the group perform. The concert leaned heavily on their new material, while also including a handful of older favorites and some surprising selections.
The worldwide trek will include roughly 80 shows and is expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue. Their newest album, Arirang, became the group’s seventh chart-topper on the Billboard 200 and set a one-day sales record with 4 million copies sold. BTS has reached four No. 1 albums faster than any group since The Beatles, and they remain the first K-pop act ever nominated for a Grammy.
Nicole Fell, assistant editor at The Hollywood Reporter, singled out the night’s setlist as a standout decision. Rather than relying on past hits after a lengthy absence, BTS showcased nearly the entire Arirang album, punctuated by select fan favorites. Fell said the members showed clear signs of maturity after completing mandatory military service, but their onstage chemistry and joy felt as authentic as ever — she suggested footage from this show and from five years ago would be difficult for fans to tell apart.
Fell also noted that Thursday’s concert felt less like a greatest-hits retrospective and more like the next chapter in BTS’s evolution. The group emphasized their unity, choosing to perform only group tracks instead of solo material, underlining that this tour is about their return together as a band.