BTS turned the South Korean city of Busan into a massive fan festival this month, drawing more than 200,000 visitors across concerts, citywide attractions, and special anniversary events as the group celebrated 13 years together.
The centerpiece of the celebration was BTS’ two-night “BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG IN BUSAN” concert at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13, which welcomed 110,000 fans in person. But the festivities extended far beyond the stadium through “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG – BUSAN,” a citywide event that transformed major landmarks, beaches, businesses, and tourist destinations into BTS-themed experiences.
According to Busan city officials, more than 200,000 people visited the festival’s major attractions, turning the group’s anniversary into one of the largest fan-centered events ever held in the city.
A Citywide Celebration for BTS’ 13th Anniversary
Visitors were immersed in the BTS experience from the moment they arrived in Busan.
Busan Station served as the festival’s welcome hub, featuring media art installations and interactive exhibits dedicated to the group. More than 26,000 people visited the Welcome Center between June 5 and June 15.
One of the most popular attractions was the “Love Song Lounge” at Haeundae Beach. The beachfront experience attracted approximately 100,000 visitors, who enjoyed BTS music, interactive activities, and large-scale installations inspired by the group’s latest album, ARIRANG.
A giant sand sculpture themed around the album’s title track, “SWIM,” and its message of “KEEP SWIMMING” became one of the event’s most photographed attractions.
Nearby, ARMY Madang at The Bay 101 welcomed roughly 28,000 visitors. The fan hub featured immersive exhibits, sponsor activations, food experiences, and relaxation areas where fans could gather between activities.
Even the waters surrounding Busan became part of the celebration. BTS-themed yacht tours sold out all 700 available seats, allowing fans to cruise around Haeundae and Gwangan Bridge while listening to the group’s music.
At night, the city delivered one of the festival’s most spectacular moments.
A drone show featuring 1,000 drones illuminated the skies above Gwangalli Beach, creating massive aerial displays inspired by songs from ARIRANG. Approximately 54,000 spectators gathered along the shoreline across two nights to witness the performance.
Busan’s iconic landmarks—including Gwangan Bridge, Busan Harbor Bridge, Nurimaru APEC House, and Hwangnyeongsan Tower—were also illuminated in the album’s signature red color, creating a citywide visual tribute to BTS.
110,000 Fans Fill Busan Stadium
The celebrations culminated with BTS’ two-night stadium concert, which attracted 110,000 attendees and was livestreamed to fans in 191 countries and territories through Weverse.
On June 13, BTS’ official debut anniversary, the concert was also broadcast through Live Viewing screenings in movie theaters across more than 80 countries, extending the celebration to audiences around the world.
As BTS took the stage, the members reflected on returning to Busan for their first concert in the city in nearly four years.
For Busan natives Jimin and Jungkook, the moment carried particular significance.
“Being able to hold a concert in our hometown feels like a dream,” they told fans. “On BTS’ birthday, we want to create unforgettable memories with all of you.”
Special Stages and Surprise Performances
The concerts featured several fan-favorite moments and exclusive performances.
BTS performed the Korean version of “NORMAL” from their fifth studio album ARIRANG for the first time, alongside a live performance of “One More Night.” The group’s recently released track “Come Over” became one of the night’s most emotional moments as fans illuminated the stadium with thousands of cellphone lights.
The group also included a special random-song segment.
On the first night, BTS performed “Paldogangsan” and a Busan-themed version of “Ma City,” while the second night featured unit stages including the vocal line’s “Dimple” and the rap line’s “Ddaeng.”
Fans’ enthusiastic encore chants eventually prompted the group to add an additional performance of “Magic Shop,” sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The production itself matched the scale of one of the world’s biggest touring acts.
Massive water cannons erupted during performances of “Body to Body” and “Butter,” while a stadium-wide singalong of the Korean folk song “Arirang” created one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.
During “IDOL,” more than 50 dancers joined BTS in a large-scale parade that circled the stadium track, transforming the entire venue into a festival ground.
An Emotional Thank You to ARMY
Toward the end of the concert, the members reflected on their 13-year journey together and thanked fans for their unwavering support.
“We’ve spent 13 years together,” the group told the audience. “We were able to endure all this time because you were here with us. We want to continue making music with ARMY for a long time. We’ll never forget today.”
Fans responded by singing “Happy Birthday” to the group before a fireworks display accompanied the finale performance of “Into the Sun.”
BTS also prepared special gifts for concert attendees, including handwritten letters, parasols, solid perfumes, and face towels.
A Major Boost for Busan
Beyond the music, the event generated a significant economic impact for Busan.
Twelve food and beverage partners participated in the festival, creating 26 collaborative menu items tied to the event.
According to city officials, average daily sales at souvenir shops in Busan Station, Gwangalli, and Haeundae increased by 136% compared to the same period last year. Sales at the Busan Station souvenir shop surged 316% on June 14 compared to the average sales recorded during the same month a year earlier.
The success of BTS THE CITY ARIRANG – BUSAN demonstrated the group’s ability to drive tourism and economic activity on a citywide scale while transforming a traditional concert weekend into a global cultural event.
With the Busan celebrations now complete, BTS will continue the ARIRANG World Tour in Europe, beginning with two shows in Madrid, Spain, on June 26 and 27 before heading to additional stops in Belgium and the United Kingdom. Tickets for all 10 European dates sold out well in advance, underscoring the group’s continued global popularity.
