Tens of thousands of BTS fans braved torrential rain at Goyang Stadium near Seoul on Thursday for the group's Arirang tour kickoff. The septet performed nearly all songs from their new Arirang album along with past hits, undeterred by the weather. Jimin addressed the soaked crowd, saying it was an honor to see them after four years apart.
Around 40,000 fans gathered at Goyang Stadium, with some arriving as early as 6:30 a.m. Half a million more tuned into a three-hour livestream of the stadium exterior. The BBC described the rain as torrential, yet the BTS Army remained enthusiastic throughout the show, which marked the group's first major tour since completing their mandatory military service in South Korea's armed forces after a four-year hiatus from group activities. They had previously held a free concert in Seoul in March that drew a quarter of a million attendees, as first reported by the BBC and fan accounts. The performance featured elaborate production even in the downpour. During the remix of Wings' 'Not Today,' lasers swept the stage as dancers with fluorescent lights joined the members in chanting 'Hey!' Pyro erupted at the song's close. 'Fire' brought more pyrotechnics, while the 'Mic Drop' remix showcased tight choreography. The group moved around a circular stage for 'Run' to ensure all sections of the crowd got a view. V lay on the wet stage during 'Swim,' mimicking a breaststroke, prompting RM to warn, 'Watch out. You might get hurt like me,' referencing his ankle injury from tour rehearsals. Suga called the venue a 'water park.' Jimin joked at the end of the main set, 'I’m soaked down to my underwear, but the most important thing was getting to see you all.' He added, 'For four years, I couldn’t see you and it was tough, but it’s an honor that I got to see you again.' BTS has more South Korea dates through the weekend and U.S. shows starting with two nights in Tampa, Florida, on April 25.
