Meanwhile, BTS will open a new world tour called ARIRANG at Goyang Sports Complex on April 9, 2026.
Moreover, the schedule covers an unprecedented scale: 34 cities and 79 shows worldwide.
At the same time, choosing Arirang as the theme signals an effort to bring Korean roots onto a global pop stage.
However, the announcement also spotlights two linked issues: the symbolism of a full-group comeback and the likely ripple effects on local economies.
The Full-Group Return — How Will Arirang Sound?
Tour overview
The official schedule is out. Meanwhile, the tour opens at Goyang Sports Complex (a major stadium near Seoul) on April 9 and continues with shows on April 11–12.
Furthermore, the run extends across North America, Europe, South America and Asia, totaling 34 cities and 79 performances.
Also, producers plan a 360-degree stage to create immersive sightlines that surround the audience.
At the same time, the ARIRANG theme places Korean identity front and center, and the confirmed domestic stops so far are Goyang and Busan.
Key point: This is the first full world tour in six years, the first full-group live shows in seven years, and the single tour with the most dates in K-pop history.
Consequently, the event is likely to trigger short-term spikes in local tourism, lodging and retail demand.
History and context
First, context matters. Meanwhile, this is BTS’s first world tour since 2019.
The group completes a long interval after members fulfilled military service and pursued solo activity, and now they reunite as a full group.
Also, RM and j-hope have framed the tour name ARIRANG as a reminder of starting points and roots (Arirang is a traditional Korean folk song known across the peninsula).
On the other hand, global touring and fandom distribution changed a lot since 2019, so this tour is likely to do more than deliver shows: it may reshape the cultural narrative around BTS and K-pop.
Member quote: "We wanted to show where we started from."
The meaning of the full-group comeback
At the same time, this is a full-group return.
BTS’s return as a complete unit is more than a concert; it is a cultural statement.
For fans, this is an emotionally powerful stage after seven years without every member performing together.
However, the schedule also brings practical challenges, including managing a long tour and rebalancing each member’s solo activities with group commitments.
Arguments in favor
Firstly, many welcome the full-group return. Meanwhile, supporters see the tour as a chance to rally the fandom (ARMY) and reaffirm shared cultural value.
Secondly, it offers musical and emotional restoration. Since 2019 the hiatus included solo projects and military service, so the comeback concerts can rekindle the bond between members and fans.
Thirdly, it restarts their global presence. Moreover, 34 cities and 79 shows will demonstrate BTS’s brand strength and provide numeric proof of K-pop’s international reach.
Fourthly, local economies could benefit. For example, Goyang’s opening dates are likely to boost hotel bookings, restaurants, transportation and retail spending in the short term.
Also, hosting a major show raises a city’s profile and can attract future tourism investment.
Fifthly, using Arirang as a theme projects Korean culture to global audiences and creates another channel for cultural exports.
Finally, the tour stimulates the live-entertainment ecosystem: production companies, stage technicians and safety crews all benefit from increased work and investment.
In short, this view combines financial ripple effects with cultural belonging. Meanwhile, fandom spending often spills into local retail and hospitality revenue, and some municipalities see such events as a chance to boost city finances. Therefore, supporters argue the tour brings economic, cultural and symbolic gains.
Arguments against
However, critics point to uneven effects. First, domestic venues are limited to Goyang and Busan, which frustrates fans in other regions such as Gwangju (j-hope’s hometown).
Consequently, fans outside those cities face reduced accessibility and a sense of exclusion.
Second, mass audiences raise concerns about transport, safety and lodging capacity. Meanwhile, even with local preparations, past large events have shown repeated traffic congestion and limits in safety operations.
Third, ticketing fairness and internal fandom conflict are risks. Even with 79 shows, intense demand can still overwhelm fair distribution systems.
Fourth, the Arirang theme could spark debate over cultural interpretation. While many praise blending tradition with pop, others may feel historical or regional sensitivities are overlooked.
Fifth, the selection of host cities raises equity questions: some local governments are left out, prompting renewed discussion about how public resources and tourism benefits are allocated.
Ultimately, critics accept the cultural and economic potential but insist that public responsibilities such as regional balance, safety and fairness must come first. Meanwhile, they call for concrete policy measures: spreading dates across regions, upgrading transport infrastructure, and adjusting lodging supply.
Meanwhile, here is a practical view focused on the Goyang opening. City-level preparations include lodging, transport, safety and public inquiry response systems.
Goyang is building on prior festival experience and strengthening public-private cooperation.
However, operational planning cannot fully control unpredictable variables such as changes in fan travel patterns or sudden large arrivals of international fans.
Meanwhile, production and technical factors matter. A 360-degree stage maximizes immersion, but it also raises issues of installation, audience flow and sightlines.
Therefore, stage design must balance safety regulations and viewing quality, which requires extra infrastructure and staff.
At the same time, a large-scale set can attract local capital investment into the arts and events sector.
Economic ripple effects
First, the local budget moves. Meanwhile, short-term spending on tickets, hotels, dining and transport will increase, and medium-term effects can include stronger city branding.
Small businesses and tourism operators expect an influx of cash, and municipalities anticipate higher tax receipts and promotional value.
Furthermore, private investment could follow, changing the local investment climate.
Summary: One large concert spins local consumption—raising household spending and expanding business revenues at the same time.
However, gains are not always evenly shared. If benefits concentrate in particular sectors or neighborhoods, equity problems arise.
Therefore, municipalities should aim beyond short-term profit and plan sustainable cultural tourism strategies.
For example, they can develop local tourism routes, stage-linked promotions with neighborhood businesses, and educational programs that tie the concert to community resources.
Transport, safety and management
Thorough preparation is essential. Meanwhile, more attendees mean more safety risks.
Goyang city and police, fire and medical services are planning traffic controls, increased public transit runs and emergency medical response based on past festival experience.
However, they must continue to test and expand contingency plans for unpredictable scenarios.
Expert note: Large events need rehearsed simulations and public-private coordination to reduce risks.
Takeaway and outlook
In short, the ARIRANG tour matters. Meanwhile, it marks BTS’s musical return and offers a reinterpretation of Korean cultural symbols.
Positives are clear: renewed global influence, local economic stimulation and expanded cultural exports.
On the other hand, unresolved issues include regional balance, transport and safety strain, and ticketing fairness.
Ultimately, this tour tests both cultural achievement and public responsibility. Moreover, the value will grow if local governments, promoters, fans and civil society engage in open discussion and coordinated action.
For now, the tour starts in Goyang and Busan, but how the remaining schedule is balanced across regions will shape public acceptance.
Finally, we ask readers: which measures would you prioritize to increase the tour’s positive local impact?
