Global sensation BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook) is set to launch a mega project in New York, the epicenter of global economy and culture. Following previous projects that utilized landmarks like Korea’s National Treasure ‘Sungnyemun,’ Las Vegas’s ‘Sphere,’ and London’s ‘London Eye,’ attention is now focused on this new endeavor, which will transform New York’s historic landmarks and urban infrastructure.
On the morning of the 10th, BTS announced ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG – NEW YORK’ (hereinafter ‘THE CITY New York’) on the global superfan platform Weverse. To commemorate their new album ‘ARIRANG’ and upcoming world tour, New York City will be transformed into an immersive cultural experience space from July 24th to August 3rd (local time).
New York, a global cultural hub and a city renowned for its diversity, was chosen by BTS as the optimal stage to convey their music and message to a broad audience. The project aims to offer an elevated cultural experience to visitors worldwide while also signaling the global expansion of ‘THE CITY’ project.
Grand Central Terminal, the world’s largest train station and a historic architectural marvel boasting an average daily foot traffic of 750,000 people, will be transformed with an ‘ARIRANG’ theme. From July 30th to August 3rd, the entire Main Hall will be ‘taken over.’ Additionally, red posters, representing the new album’s key color, will adorn various subway stations, allowing the entire city to feel the festive excitement.
Inside the Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall will host ‘ARMY MADANG,’ an engaging offline activity. This space will showcase stage costumes worn by BTS during their ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ concert at Wembley Stadium in the UK in 2019. An experiential program, ‘CUSTOMIZE YOUR T-SHIRT,’ where fans can personalize t-shirts with album logos and tracklists, will also be available.
The Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY) will promote the charm of Korean culture through an event featuring numerous K-brands. Samsung Electronics will operate an experience zone where visitors can create stickers using the latest smart devices. Additionally, cosmetic brands, bakery brands, and photo booths will be on hand to delight visitors’ senses.
‘THE CITY New York’ will feature a ‘stamp rally’ route designed to organically connect urban infrastructure, encouraging visitors to explore various parts of the city and fully enjoy the festival. Key New York locations such as Grand Central Terminal, the Korean Cultural Center New York, ‘Bank of Hope,’ and the ARTE MUSEUM will be seamlessly linked, alongside the ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG” concerts held at MetLife Stadium on August 1st and 2nd.
Furthermore, the entire city of New York is set to transform into a massive theme park, complete with random play dances featuring famous local K-pop dance crews, welcome parties at renowned New York clubs, and collaborations with F&B brands. Detailed schedules and information about additional programs will be available on Weverse on the 20th.
