Global sensation BTS is bringing the “BTS The City Arirang Seoul” project to life, offering fans an immersive experience throughout the city. The details were unveiled on Monday on Hybe’s fan community platform, Weverse.
BigHit Music, the group’s agency, announced that this festival, running from this Friday through April 19th, is a collaborative effort with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The goal is to offer tourists and locals alike a “new way to experience culture and art, and enjoy BTS’ comeback.” The event promises to weave BTS’s influence into various aspects of the city, including food, beverage, and transportation.
BTS has successfully staged similar “The City” festivals in the past, including Las Vegas in April 2022 and Busan in October of the same year, coinciding with their concerts and attracting huge audiences.
To celebrate the release of their fifth studio album, “Arirang,” this Friday, spectacular media facade shows will illuminate Sungnyemun Gate and Namsan Seoul Tower starting at 7 p.m. Following this, a dazzling 15-minute drone show will light up the night sky over Ttukseom Han River Park at 8:30 p.m.
These captivating events will lead up to a free BTS concert at Gwanghwamun Square the following night. An estimated 260,000 people are expected to gather in the area, including 22,000 lucky ticket holders. For fans eager to soak in the BTS atmosphere, a large outdoor screen at the square will stream exclusive BTS footage from 7 p.m. Friday until midnight Saturday.
More iconic landmarks are joining in the celebration, with Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and Banpo Bridge’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain hosting mesmerizing music and light shows from March 20 to April 12 and March 21-22, respectively.
The project also features an engaging interactive “stamp rally,” encouraging visitors to collect digital badges at key festival locations. These locations include the bustling financial district of Yeouido, the architectural marvel of the DDP, and Shinsegae Square, a grand outdoor digital media facade displayed on the main Shinsegae Department Store building in the heart of Seoul.
From Friday to Sunday, Yeouido Han River Park will transform into the “Love Song Lounge,” a vibrant open-air music zone where fans can come together and immerse themselves in the iconic sounds of BTS.
From April 6th to 12th, the DDP’s Exhibition Hall 1 will become “ARMY Square,” a dedicated space for the group’s devoted fandom, known as ARMY. Simultaneously, the “Love Quarter” program will unfold along Cheonggye Stream and at Yongsan Station from April 6th to 19th. Prepare to be captivated by media art installations utilizing light and video to project heartfelt messages from their new album onto stone walls, stairways, and tree-lined streets.
Following the Seoul extravaganza, BigHit has announced that the “BTS The City Arirang Seoul” project will extend its reach to other major cities across the globe later this year, bringing the BTS experience to even more fans worldwide.
