Saed News: One of the world’s most مشهور and popular pop music groups, BTS, made a grand return to the stage after four years of absence due to members fulfilling their mandatory military service, holding a free concert attended by 22,000 spectators.
According to SAEDNEWS, more than 18.4 million people worldwide watched the live broadcast of the BTS concert via Netflix. With around 30 million fans globally—who refer to themselves as the “BTS Army”—the K-pop group stands as a leading symbol of the “Korean Wave” and the global rise in popularity of South Korean culture and its economic impact.
“Arirang,” the group’s tenth studio album released in late March, topped sales charts in the three largest music markets: the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The group’s upcoming world tour—featuring more than 80 concerts across 23 countries—is expected to generate over $1.4 billion in revenue.
In South Korea, the number of inbound tourists during the first 18 days of March increased by 32.7% compared to the previous month, as the return concert approached. Hotel prices in central Seoul also surged due to high demand. In the week leading up to the concert, BTS merchandise sales at a retail store in central Seoul rose by 430%.
In 2022, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute estimated that a single BTS concert in Seoul could generate up to 1.2 trillion won (approximately $798 million) in economic impact. As members approached the age for mandatory military service, policymakers debated special exemptions, with the group estimated to contribute around $4.65 billion annually to the national economy.
Following the rapid sellout of BTS’s upcoming concerts in Mexico City—with tickets selling out in just 37 minutes—Claudia Sheinbaum reportedly urged her South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, to “bring more acclaimed K-pop artists for concerts,” noting that nearly one million fans in Mexico attempted to secure 150,000 tickets.
