BTS ‘Arirang’ Takes Over Los Angeles With Concerts And Culture

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Global superstars BTS have arrived in Los Angeles, performing two of the four nights planned at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood – and with two more concerts to go this weekend.

Los Angeles has been ready for the South Korean artists since the announcement of their ARIRANG World Tour back in January. The city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Tourism Organization declared September 1-8 as “BTS Week” to commemorate the group’s concerts. BTS – which consists of members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – has a long history with the city since their pre-debut days (Jung Kook came to train at the local dance studios). The group debuted in 2013 and filmed their early docu-series, American Hustle Life, in LA.

Since then, the group has made many appearances in the city, including concerts, media events, fashion shows, brand ambassadorship visits, collaborations, recording sessions, and music videos. The group filmed many of their music videos in the City of Angels, including Black Swan” (at the historic Los Angeles Theatre), j-hope’s “Chicken Noodle Soup” ft. LA native Becky G (in downtown Los Angeles), and “ON” (at the Sepulveda Dam) – to name a few.

For many members, LA is like a second home, especially since they spent over two months working on their latest album, ARIRANG. They documented their experience in the Netflix documentary, BTS: The Return, which showed their connection to the city. It’s why on the first night – which was also Jung Kook’s 29th birthday – the members spoke lovingly about the city.

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“How are you feeling, my second hometown?” RM addressed the crowd on Night 1. “LA, you guys have given us so much. We’ve done our first KCON in 2014. We shot American Hustle Life in 2014 in LA. We made ARIRANG a year ago in Los Angeles. I’m speechless, but I [always feel] at home when I come to LA. We never forget what you have always been showing – the love, the support, [and] the truth – that’s everything. We never forget all of that. Thank you so much, Los Angeles.”

Jin mentioned his love for Los Angeles, especially his last fishing experience where he caught a tuna. Since it’s tuna season again, he stated he planned to go again soon. The eldest member recently posted about his fishing expedition (and success) between concert dates. Since it was Jung Kook’s birthday, Jin shared, “If I catch one, I will take a picture, and I will give it to Jung Kook as a birthday present.”

V recalled the ARIRANG recording experience the last time he was in LA, and how much he wanted ARMY to hear the album “as soon as possible.” He tells the frenzied crowd, “I really missed the ARMYs here in Los Angeles a lot.”

SUGA, j-hope, and Jimin gave their love and thanks to the crowd, reminding them that LA would be their last North American stop, but they have more nights to celebrate. Jimin told the sold-out crowd, “Thank you again for coming out in such large numbers, and for singing our songs with us.”

j-hope, who spent many months in Los Angeles following his military discharge, greeted ARMY in style, “What’s Poppin’ LA?” He then tells them that shows in LA will be special for all of them.

SUGA wants everyone to save their energy for the other nights too, “So, hope you don’t hold back your energy and enjoy the rest of your days. And we’re going to have a lot of fun for the next three days.”

When it came to Jung Kook’s moment, the crowd returned the love for the birthday boy with an ARMY fan project where golden lights (from fans’ phones) appeared surrounding the stadium. Jung Kook acknowledged it, “It’s Golden. You guys are so sweet. [sings] Standing Next to You! Okay, wow! First of all, this is so beautiful. Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me. Being with you all on this birthday, I’m so honored.”

BTS didn’t just bring an entertaining performance; they also brought together a cultural movement that celebrates South Korea and its rich culture. During their performance of “Body to Body,” which includes a sample of the Korean folk song, “Arirang,” the multicultural and multigenerational crowd all sang along – word for word. Several fans wore hanboks (traditional Korean clothing). Many carried cultural items, including taegeukseons (a round fan painted with the iconic red, blue, and yellow Korean taegeuk symbol) and Norigae (a traditional Korean accessory). It’s a reminder of how much BTS has contributed to South Korea’s culture and economy, contributing an estimated $5 billion annually.

“BTS has transcended music to connect cultures, generations, and people around the world,” said Doane Liu, Chief Tourism Officer and Executive Director of the City Tourism Department for the City of Los Angeles, in a press release for BTS Week. “We are thrilled to welcome them back for another meaningful series of performances in Los Angeles, a city that holds a special place for BTS and fans around the world. Through BTS Week, we are proud to celebrate the group’s positive global influence and enduring connection to Los Angeles.”

Several businesses have been cashing in on the group’s arrival, offering special deals, cup sleeves, and more. The local Del Taco near SoFi Stadium has a special BTS ARMY Deal, celebrating “BTS ARMY in the house.” Several tea houses in San Gabriel Valley, Koreatown, and Orange County are offering special BTS cup sleeves with purchase, along with fan events for ARMY to mingle. Restaurants, especially Korean ones, are also offering special BTS meals. Koreatown itself has seen a boost in patronage during BTS Week.

As fans (and BTS) prepare for Saturday and Sunday’s concerts, RM tells us, “It was such a joy to return to SoFi Stadium and reunite with ARMY in Los Angeles for the final stop of our North American leg. Every city brought its own energy, but what stays with us most are the faces of the ARMY we met along the way. Singing, laughing, and sharing those moments together made every night feel personal, no matter how big the stadium was. Being back on stage together reminded us how much we love performing, and we’re excited to carry these memories with us as the tour continues.”

BTS last performed in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium for their Permission to Dance On Stage Tour in 2021 for four sold-out nights. Those concerts grossed over $33.3 million in ticket sales and boosted the local Southern California economy, generating an estimated $100 million. The BTS ARIRANG World Tour has boosted the local economies of each city visited, including Las Vegas and London. The BTS World Tour ARIRANG is projected to bring BTS’s company, HYBE, more than $1 billion in revenue from album sales, concerts, merchandise, licensing, and live concert streams.

BTS performs tonight and tomorrow at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and is set to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on September 18. The group will continue their ARIRANG World Tour in South America, starting in Bogota on October 2, stopping in Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. They then head to their Asia and Oceania leg of the tour.





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