- As nature aligned with their tagline to “keep swimming,” BTS defied rain to give a top-notch performance at their opening show in Goyang, South Korea.
- The group came back to the stage nearly four years later, while reportedly generating around $168 million USD in digital sales.
- With authorities guarding outside for both security purposes and abetment of fake products tied to the group, BTS leader RM said that their popular “Keep Swimming” jacket will soon be available as official merch.
The return of the world’s most popular group began not just with a polished dance routine, but with a global momentum. As the first notes began, hooded figures ran through a downpour with a red flare cutting a jagged line through the mist. And there began the tunes of Hooligan, which collided with the roar of 40,000 rain-drenched fans at Goyang Stadium. The aggressive, hip-hop-heavy track, which is defined by clashing sword samples and chopped strings, made it clear that BTS was no longer interested in perfection as they were in their pre-enlistment era. Instead, they initiated something harder, sharper, and crucially more resilient.
BTS Arirang Tour First Concert Performance Details: Fans and BTS Defy Heavy Downpour
As the Arirang World Tour kicked off on Thursday night, it marked the end of a four-year absence tied to South Korea’s obligatory military service. The seven-member group composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook defied the relentless rainfall that continued throughout the event. Notably, the BTS live performance lasted for two and a half hours as the fans “kept swimming” in the rain, supporting their beloved band members.
The rainfall had turned the stage into what Suga described as a "water park." When the rain stripped away the possibility of rhythmic choreography, the group inclined towards a raw, environmental connection that potentially surpassed the impact of a dry set.
What Songs Did BTS Perform in South Korea Opening Show?
The BTS world tour 2026 setlist at Goyang acted as a ten-year retrospective engine that was reimagined for this new era. The evening heavily emphasized their fifth studio album, Arirang, with tracks like Swim and the psychedelic rock of Merry Go Round. The next song which followed Merry Go Round was 2.0. Post which Body to Body brought an emotional anchor to the setlist which integrated the traditional Korean folk melody of the album's namesake into a contemporary architecture. With such a move, BTS closed the gap between national heritage and global pop power.
The production was also a technical feat alongside a musical one. Its 360-degree stage made way for multiple large catwalks that extended from the stage, which was encompassed by pyrotechnics, walls of flame, and thousands of LED lights. Flames were erupting during a performance which was a Jersey club-inspired mashup of FYA and the 2016 classic Burning Up! (Fire), showcasing the grandeur of the BTS Arirang tour, South Korea’s first day.
Candid Moments of Members Which Made BTS Arirang Goyang Concert a Memorable Event
Despite the extravaganza, the most relatable moments were unscripted. For instance, RM performed in the show, just three weeks after a ligament tear that caused an ankle injury, which is now healing. He took part in the Idol act from a traditional sedan chair.
Screen Capture from RM's Official Instagram story repost
On the other hand, on the slick stage nearby, V transformed a near-fall into an impromptu worm dance. Additionally, at one point, Jimin acknowledged that he was "soaked to his underwear," showcasing that the seven members were determined to perform for the fans who were there in Goyang for the performance.
However, beyond the stadium walls, the numbers were even bigger, with hundreds of ticketless fans standing in the parking lot just to hear the stifling audio of their idols’ performance. This suggested a scale that only a few modern artists can rival today.
Furthermore, according to Weverse data tracked online, more than four million viewers (with online data reporting a figure even higher in the range of five to seven million) tuned into the show via the platform’s livestream. According to BBC, these fans who paid to watch live video from the BTS Arirang tour opening concert translated this viewership into $168 million USD in sales. This is one of the most important BTS South Korea concert details.
Markedly, in the VIP sections, BTS’ industry peers and label juniors were present, including members of TXT, Stray Kids’ Bang Chan, and IVE’s Wonyoung. BTS also integrated a surprise performance of their 2015 hit track, I Need U, with complete choreography.
What songs are in the BTS Arirang World Tour setlist?
The BTS 2.5 hour concert setlist Arirang tour at Goyang, was divided into two parts, a main set and an encore set, totaling 23 songs. The songs of the main set are down below:
- Hooligan
- Aliens
- Run BTS
- They Don't Know 'Bout Us
- Like Animals
- Fake Love
- Swim
- Merry Go Round
- 2.0
- Normal
- Not Today
- Mic Drop
- FYA
- Fire
- Body to Body
- Idol
The BTS Arirang tour songs list from the encore set, which is definitely smaller than the main set included the following songs:
- Come Over
- Butter
- Dynamite
- Mikrokosmos
- I Need U
- Please
- Into the Sun
Goyang Concert Ended with a New Merch Drop and Into the Sun Performance
The economic effects of the tour are already impacting local and global forecasts. Notably, areas in and around Goyang have seen their hotel inventory exhausted with the city anticipating 120,000 visitors across the three-day run. It is further supported by a government-backed "Saving Local Economy Big Sale" campaign running through April 15. Through this initiative, around 156 businesses, including restaurants, department stores, and supermarkets, will be offering discounts and promotions. According to industry observers, the 85-show tour, which spans 34 cities and ends in Manila in 2027, is estimated to generate over $1B, making it a direct rival to the revenue benchmarks set by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
However, the return also depicted the continuous friction between K-pop’s huge demand and its shadow markets. During the Goyang opening show, RM issued a warning related to "Keep Swimming" jackets, the night’s breakout merchandise. The BTS frontman said that the jackets will be available soon as official merchandise. However, fans need to be wary of “fake products.”
Notably, even as the band was performing with soaked garments on stage, South Korean Intellectual Property Office authorities were stationed outside the venue. They were there to combat a surge in counterfeit goods. Remarkably the BBC report added that over 25,000 fake products were circulating online in the last two months alone, with BTS-linked items dominating the numbers.
As the night ended with Into the Sun and a plethora of fireworks over the Goyang skyline (also visible during the Body to Body act), this BTS show was less about the past and more about persistence. As the Arirang era begins, the band shows that this revival is not merely a comeback; it is a high-end rebranding of a now legacy act that has survived the transition period, which made them icons from idols.
The BTS Arirang tour in South Korea will last for another two days through April 12, before moving to Tokyo. The group will be carrying with them the momentum of a night that proved, quite literally, they can weather any storm.
