BTS World Tour Kicks Off in Goyang, Driving 55.5 Billion Won in Spending by Foreign Visitors

BTS began its new world tour in Goyang after a six-and-a-half-year hiatus. The concerts titled “BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ in Goyang,” held on the 9th and from the 11th to 12th at the Goyang Comprehensive Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, saw all tickets sold out. Although technical issues arose on the first day due to rain, BTS performed every scheduled stage show on the following clear days.

The most notable feature of these concerts was the 360-degree stage design. Extended stages were placed at each corner to reduce the distance between the performers and fans. The stage was modeled after a modern version of the Jeongjagak pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace, with a Taegukgi motif visible when viewed from above. Traditional Korean elements such as traditional music and hanji graphics were incorporated throughout the entire stage setup.

These concerts served as a showcase for “BTS 2.0.” With most of the members now in their 30s, BTS performed songs with complex choreography like “Hooligan” and “2.0,” while also delivering party-themed tracks such as “Fire,” “FAKE LOVE,” and “IDOL” to create an energetic atmosphere. Their fifth album, “ARIRANG,” represented the group’s current artistic direction at that time.

Fans from around the world reunited with BTS for the first time in four years. The last time the group performed as a complete unit was at the “Yet To Come” concert in Busan in 2022.

The commercial areas near the Goyang Comprehensive Stadium also benefited from the surge in concert-related activity. During the concert week (April 6–12), the number of foreign card transactions increased by 807% compared to the previous week (March 30–April 5), while the total transaction amount rose by 231%. Among different types of businesses, cafes saw a 1,109% increase, convenience stores experienced a 1,069% rise, shopping venues saw a 629% increase, and restaurants recorded a 600% increase.

The spending patterns of foreign tourists who visited Korea for these concerts were also analyzed. Based on payment data from 30,000 foreigners who purchased concert tickets through travel platforms, the total domestic spending by foreign visitors from January 1 to April 12 was estimated at approximately 55.5 billion won. The average spending per person was 1.85 million won. By country, Japan accounted for 32% of spending, followed by Taiwan at 12%, the Philippines at 7%, and Hong Kong and the United States each at 5%. Asian countries made up over 75% of the total spending. On average, each foreign visitor purchased 2.1 concert tickets.