iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Weverse

@weverse.bsky.social

197 followers 1 following 1.7K posts

UNOFFICIAL BTS Weverse archived by ARMY 💜 Links to BTS Weverse Magazine & screenshots of the articles and photos for the Weverse adverse. Best viewed on tablet/large screen.

Posts Replies Media

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Weverse Jin weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

Jin:
How have you all been

It's Chuseok in Korea Enjoy Chuseok~

(meaning a joyful Chuseok)

I changed my phone and it's been a while since I last greeted you, but I'm trying to recover my Weverse password

I have finished the second North American tour and am recovering my condition to prepare for the South American tour.

Since it's Chuseok, I'm spending a joyful time having a meal with my family for the first time in a while. It's the moment I forcibly teach my dad what I'm playing, and it's really fun. My father says he is happy too.

Have a great time, everyone!

Jin's appa playing a game on a laptop. Looks like he's playing Maple Story

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Weverse V weverse.io/bts/moment/0...

V holding a paper towel.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Weverse Jimin weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

Jimin: "I'm back ☺️"

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Weverse V weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

V takes a picture of the Chicago Theatre

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Reverse V weverse.io/bts/fanpost/...

Kim Tae Hyung:
"Wow. I joined Reverse because I dreamed of being a ARMY"

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Weverse Jin weverse.io/bts/artist/4...

Slices of raw fish and sauce.

Fish and sauce added to a bowl of rice and greens.

Jin wants you to enjoy a sashimi rice bowl just like his.

000

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Weverse Jungkook weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Weverse V weverse.io/bts/moment/0...

V practicing self care with a moisture mask.

000

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Weverse V weverse.io/bts/moment/0...

Blonde V up close to the camera

000

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

BTS

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

RM once described the path BTS has traveled so far as "a path no one has traveled before," and it seems the current tour is a part of that. What's the biggest realization you've come to as you've continued down this untrodden road across so many different cities since April?

RM: This is a really hard question, and it's really hard to give a neat, tidy answer to. If there's one thing I felt with absolute certainty, though, it's that the 10-plus years we've been doing this together haven't just disappeared into thin air. We've sung so many songs and shared so many real connections with each other over the years, I felt like this tour finally brought some of that together after the long wait and let it shine. Like, "Wow, we really went at it for 13 years. I'm so thankful."

At the end of the day, the "ARIRANG" tour feels like it's both BTS 2.0 and a chance to think about what that name really means.

Jin: These guys are the best, you know? I've done promotions and even toured without the others before, and there was a lot of pressure there. There was this fear in the back of my mind. Performing without them taught me something-how grateful I am that we get to do this together and how much it means to me. When I'm with them, we end up laughing our way through everything, and onstage, too, I'm so happy that I just can't help smiling.

Jimin: Reuniting like this was a vivid reminder of just how grateful and happy I am that all seven of us get to perform together. I think seeing all seven of us onstage together from start to finish during this tour says everything about how we see our group and how we feel about each other.

j-hope: With our group, you could never replace any of the members. Each of us has our own role to play, and there's a kind of beauty you only get when we're all lumped together. And more than anything, I think there's this connection with people all over the world that only exists when all seven of us are together. Since this tour is our first time being back with our fans in a long time, we wanted to give them as much time with the whole group as possible. That's really all there is to it.

SUGA: I'm just grateful that, even 13 years later, we still get to go on tour and keep being singers.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

RM has compared your time in the military to chronos, meaning measurable, chronological time, and the time spent with the rest of the group to kairos, a noteworthy point in life that creates its own meaning. It seems like this tour, too, must be kairos thanks to the memories you get from visiting all these different places and the memories you make there with ARMY. What moments from the tour have made it to kairos?

RM: I feel that way whenever I get to visit what you'd call the truly local spots in a city. Especially somewhere unexpected ... When I go to a famous tourist spot or museum, my expectations are already so high that it's hard to actually be moved by it. It's more the restaurants, cafes, and small shops I stumble across while wandering the streets where I can really feel the place. It's like, "So this is how people here live, this is how ARMY here lives. These are the sights they see every day." I cherish time spent like that.

And on that note, it seems like V's been putting in a lot of effort to help create even more memories with the group throughout the tour. Jin even called him the "culture master" on Weverse LIVE on May 3. What's been driving this hunt for little pockets of joy in every city, like the pizza V told ARMY was great at Stanford Stadium?

V: We'd talked about wanting to make the most of our time together offstage, too, and I wanted to keep everyone's energy up so no one got too worn out over the tour, so I ended up being among a few of us who comes up with ideas, like restaurants and pickleball, and I kept nagging the others to come along. (laughs) I've come to realize that creating little pockets of happiness like that can make the whole tour a better experience for all of us.

SUGA's been posting behind-the-scenes photos from every tour stop on Instagram, and he even vlogged the marathon he ran during your time in Stanford for ARMY. What was the push to document moments from the tour like that?

SUGA: I just felt like it. I can never forget just how much ARMY's supported us, and I always make sure not to. Honestly, I just did the vlog because I thought our fans might enjoy it, so I'm glad they did.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

J-Hope

Jimin

Jungkook

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Jin

Suga

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Seeing ARMY wave Korean flags and sing along to the "Arirang" section of "Body to Body" on night three at Stanford Stadium really felt like witnessing the exact moment one country's folk song crossed international borders to become a love song for everyone. What goes through your mind when you see something like that?

j-hope: It gets me every time. It's overwhelming. I can't put it into words any other way! I think the "Arirang" part of "Body to Body" has become one of the most iconic moments among the things we wanted to do on this tour. I think that's the very heart of it-setting aside differences like language, race, geography, gender, and all that to come together as one through love. I think communication onstage matters just as much as the performance itself. I think the two really feed off each other.

This tour has BTS's past and present coexisting side by side. The setlist is built around "ARIRANG" for the most part, but there's also time set aside to connect with ARMY through songs from your earlier days. How do you feel when you sing those older songs with ARMY now?

Jung Kook: It makes me happy. Sometimes I get nostalgic and look up old

videos of our performances, too. Obviously I can't do all the choreography from back then exactly the same, but there's a very different hit of nostalgia when I'm actually performing it live instead of just watching a video of it, and I wanted to let ARMY experience the same thing.

SUGA: I'm grateful that there's still people out there who can listen to the music from that era with us and go right back to those old times. Everyone becomes a fan at a different time, but it was so moving to create this experience where everyone could come together as one anyway.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

RM: Not to overstate it, but I'm practically on tour just for that moment. It's the closest I get to losing myself completely. I'm the kind of person who's normally full of random thoughts and worries, so when I let go of all that and just let loose and have a good time without thinking, that's when I feel the most amount of energy and adrenaline. It's when the version of myself I'm usually so self-conscious about totally disappears, and I melt into the crowd. And even though it's exhausting, and my ankle still hurts, I can't help but want to get even more into it. I look forward to it more than any other part of the concert.

That's another big part of what makes this tour special-those spontaneous moments you share with ARMY, like V in Mexico City eating a hot dog or making a toast with them, or Jin asking for confetti to rain down over his head or blowing his signature kiss. Every show ends up with its own special moment.

V: Umm, how do I say this? I just like seeing ARMY happy, so if some idea pops into my head suddenly, I guess I just go with it. I want to make them laugh. (laughs) Even when I'm talking with the crowd, I try not to get too serious about it. I'd rather just chat about everyday stuff and keep it light. I feel like that gets more laughs out of them anyway.

Jin: I'm a pretty spontaneous person, so a lot of the time I'll see something and think, "Oh, I should try that." I guess when you think about it, that still counts as planning-just planning spontaneously. (laughs) I love making people laugh, so I'm always thinking, "Oh, I bet I can make them laugh if I do that." I mean, ARMY goes through all the trouble to come out for the show, so it's nice if they can get in a few extra laughs.

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The part where Jung Kook catches the drone during "Run BTS" got a lot of attention. He looks so natural doing it that some people thought it was improvised at first. What's the story behind that?

Jung Kook: That part was very deliberately orchestrated. We ended up trying it out based on an idea the director had. The drone actually crashed into the floor by accident when we were rehearsing. I'm always worried I'm going to miss it. (laughs)

When "SWIM" comes up later in the setlist, it turns the show's sentimental mood up to 11. RM has described the song as something that's neither "a command" nor "a recommendation" but "just describing somebody" or people who "almost give up but not give up 100%." With all that packed into it, it must feel indescribable when ARMY sings along all throughout the stadium.

RM: The meaning of "SWIM" keeps getting refined all throughout the tour. We've entered a future we didn't see coming, and even with all the twists and turns, somehow we're still moving forward, beat by beat. I think life really is just an imperfect, unbroken series of waves you never see coming like that. When "SWIM" comes on, sometimes I take out my in-ear and just listen to the crowd. It helps me really get into it for when my verse comes in.

The sentimental part of the concert transitions into the most physically demanding stretch of songs: "Not Today," "MIC Drop," "FYA," and "FIRE." In fact, on the first night at Stanford Stadium, some of you were so worn out that you lay down on the ground after. But what struck me was how you would come out on the thrust stage even when the cameras weren't on you, still going nonstop and interacting with ARMY. Jimin: I try not to think too hard during that stretch. I just focus on conveying the exact energy of the songs through my body so ARMY can feel it.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

J-Hope

Jimin

Jungkook

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Jin

Suga

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The concerts feel free and loose on the surface of things, but it sounds like it takes a lot of careful coordination and design behind the scenes.

You start with traditional gugak music that symbolizes the whole theme of the concert, then launch into "Hooligan," with j-hope taking the lead.

j-hope: We all have certain ways of doing things-certain patterns we'd fallen into over the years-but I tried hard to break away from a lot of that.

Since I'm the one kicking things off with the opening of "Hooligan," I felt like it absolutely had to hit hard. For that reason, I've been trying to bring a little more energy to the performative aspect. And since we're doing several shows all with the same setlist, I try to do something a little different each time and leave a strong impression. That's part of the charm of touring-plus it adds a little extra fun for ARMY if they come out to more than one show! I'm not sure if it's really working, but fortunately I seem to be past it weighing on me. (laughs) Now I'm trying to feel a little more confident, getting things started more at my own pace.

There's a lot of walking around throughout the show, and for Jimin, it feels like even that is a form of personal expression. Where was your main focus in that regard when you were getting ready for the tour?

Jimin: I wanted the whole show, start to finish, to be one unbroken immersive experience. It wasn't so much "Here's the kind of vibe I should give off while walking" as a lot of "What does this song mean to me?"

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

In "BTS: THE RETURN," Jimin talks about how "perform[ing] onstage together" is "what we are meant to do. So it's a matter of focusing on what needs to get done now." What does it mean to you to be performing right now, given you're carrying that sense of being a group with you?

Jimin: I don't think it's anything grandiose. As long as ARMY's there, every show is special-because we're performers, and ARMY's there to see us. Our job is to put on the best show possible and make sure ARMY feels like spending their day to go to the concert was worth it, so I think we owe it to them to put absolutely everything we've got into what we're there to do. I keep that responsibility in mind every time I get up onstage.

j-hope: This tour's also the start of an evolution. We felt like we needed to be the ones leading the way, working through it as we go, and that it's what's required to get us to the next level. So we all worked really hard getting ready for everything, chewing all that over.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The documentary "BTS: THE RETURN" begins with Jin opening up about how tough touring is, and yet he suggested extending the "ARIRANG" tour.

Jin: Before we went into the military, we said, "Once we all get discharged, let's go see ARMY everywhere we couldn't tour during COVID." It wasn't really something we were discussing with the label. It was a promise we made together before enlisting-going to the places where people wanted to see us. If a singer you like goes on tour and yours is the only country they skip, of course you feel bad, and we didn't want ARMY to feel that way. When I see them writing to thank us for coming to where they're at, it means the world to me. It was meant to happen eventually, and now we're finally doing it.

Something that stands out about this tour is how there are no subunit or solo songs, instead focusing on the seven of you being all together. The concerts really drive home how BTS is one unified group.

Jung Kook: You hit the nail on the head with our intention. It's pretty unusual for a group to fill an entire concert exclusively with group songs from start to finish anymore. We wanted to remind everyone what BTS is like as a group, and since it's been so long since our last tour, we tried to focus on the kind of energy we have when we're all together. Obviously that makes things harder, but we wanted to immerse the audience in that feeling of all seven of us putting on the show together, all the way through.

V: We all felt that we should be focusing on the group rather than subunit or solo songs. I think that is the core of this tour. Having the seven of us back together after all this time feels special, and it's also our way of saying we want to keep doing this together.

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Jimin

Jungkook

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Jin

Suga

J-Hope

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Weverse Magazine magazine.weverse.io/article/view...

There they were, the seven of them all onstage together again. There, with ARMY. Those two facts alone are all you really need to hear to know what "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" is all about. The big question behind "ARIRANG," the group's latest album, was, "What is your love song?" The answer is starting to come to light in their performances, filled with all the longing that accompanied them on the long road back to the stage, with ARMY singing right along with them. With BTS on tour since April, we asked the seven of them in writing what sticks with them after the curtain.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

From BTS to ARMY

RM Now that I'm done with my mandatory service, I see this as a chance to step into my 30s and meet ARMY all around the world, say my thank-yous, and share in this 10-year-plus history. I hope I can get you to feel all the emotions this year's tour has to give. I hope it's fun, exciting, and brings plenty of tears and plenty of joy, too.

JIN I've been to a lot of festivals myself, and some of those memories stay with me almost like snapshots. Sometimes I look back on them and go, "That day was really amazing," or, "I wish I could go back to that exact moment in time." I hope our "ARIRANG" tour stays with ARMY that way, too-as an all-time great pic, as a wonderful memory.

SUGA Since it's been a while since we've done a show together, I just hope ARMY will enjoy this one with all their hearts. Thank you.

j-hope I'm so happy we finally get to see everyone again, have fun, and feel like one after all this time. Lately I've really been feeling how putting on a good show isn't everything. The audience has a huge effect on a concert, too. We're giving it everything we've got, every night, so that ARMY will really feel that they're getting their time's worth. And I hope the rest of the shows are just as fun. Thank you always! I love you!!

Jimin A day so full of happiness that it makes all the time you spent waiting around for us, and coming out to see us, feel completely worth it-that's exactly how I'd love for you to remember our concert. And we'll make sure to put on the kind of show for you that makes that possible. Thank you as always. I love you.

V This is what a grown-up BTS looks like! We'll always be right here beside you, growing as you grow and singing for you.

Jung Kook I mean, I don't know if I need to say anything grandiose. (laughs) I just hope the "ARIRANG" tour is one ARMY will wish they could see over and over again.

000

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The members sit on stage and address ARMY with heartfelt sentiments

On June 12, the first night playing the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, BTS surprised the crowd with performances of "Paldogangsan" and "Ma City." In these respective songs, BTS has sung about how they came together as a group in Seoul after coming from different regions all across the country ("From Seoul and Gangwon to Gyeongsang-do / From Chungcheong to Jeolla-do / We're here to say we're here") and affirming their diverse roots ("I was raised by that city"). It showed just how closely the latest album and tour are tied to the roots and very essence of BTS, then, when RM got on Weverse LIVE and summed up the current state of the group as "the new beginning of seven young Korean men," and posed this question: "Then what sets BTS apart

from other groups? And what have we been doing all this time?" Theirs has been a process of growth, crossing the boundary from hometown to Seoul, from Korea to the world, and connecting with more and more along the way. By the time the current tour winds down, what will be the answer BTS has found to that question?

"I always feel like an album isn't really ours anymore once it comes out," RM said. His words reflect what the tour is coming to mean for both the group and for ARMY. "The evaluation and appreciation of it all belongs entirely to the listeners and the audience at that point. It's still hard to say for sure, but I do feel like we're moving toward some next step, whether that's in our work or in our personal lives. I'm just not totally sure yet what direction that is." Conveying, right here, right now, their own story through music. Proving themselves onstage and finding that meaning together. There's no telling what's waiting on the other side of the hill, but even so, BTS is beginning their next chapter-as they always have.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

ARMY

During the song "Come Over," SUGA asks ARMY, in a calm, quiet voice, how they've been: "Sorry, I'm a little late, huh? / You been good, nothing goin' on?" By now, it's become something of a tradition on this tour for fans to respond to his rhetorical question about being late with a booming "no way!" "I'm just happy I get to sing 'Come Over' together with the rest of the group onstage," SUGA said, adding that, "since it'd been a while since we'd made an album," the song as it stands today is "just the thoughts that came to me, exactly as they were." To borrow a line from the lyrics, BTS's "ARIRANG" tour feels like they're writing the story of the group "starting again."

But even as they start again, some things remain the same. Jung Kook has been filming and editing his own vlogs on the road, despite the tour's packed schedule, and posting them to his Instagram, calling to mind the Golden Closet Film series he used to upload to BTS's YouTube channel. "It reminded me of when I used to film things every once in a while, back in the day," the idol said when asked what prompted him to start vlogging.

"Keeping a record of everything not just with photos but with video makes it easier to remember exactly what things were like at a given time, so I thought it'd be nice to build a habit of documenting my day for ARMY every now and then!" Another blast from the past comes from the inclusion of two different surprise songs near the end of each show. As the UK magazine "NME" put it, "this being the 'ARIRANG' tour, most of the setlist is pulled from that album," but there's still "older songs sprinkled here and there," and the fact that each show comes with its own unique surprises makes for a "great" concert "of past and present combining." V, too, has found the surprise segment to be an energetic, emotional experience. "When an old song comes on, the memories from back then suddenly come clearly into view," he said. "I guess I just can't forget that period of time, so those memories come rushing back, and my body starts moving on its own. Maybe it's because I'm so happy and excited, but I start dancing without even knowing it. Honestly, there's some songs I practiced so much back then that they're just there in my body. I don't think I could forget them if I tried."

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

BTS THE CITY

"BTS THE CITY ARIRANG" is a massive citywide festival being held in tandem with the group's "ARIRANG" tour. It kicked off with "THE CITY SEOUL" in March and April to coincide with the release of the album, followed by "THE CITY LAS VEGAS" in May, "THE CITY BUSAN" in June, and "THE CITY LONDON" in July. "We saw how happy people were at the concerts and wanted to let that happiness last a little longer," a representative for "THE CITY" explained, adding that the idea behind the campaign was "to take fan culture and all the different kinds of experiences that come with it-the kind that would normally be tied directly to the concert-and spread them out across an entire city." The key is in extending the concert experience across the whole urban space, giving fans a one-of-a-kind delight that can be experienced exclusively in person. The rep added that "THE CITY" is "designed so that hardcore fans, tourists, and locals alike have opportunities to encounter the artist and their work as they go about their day, naturally drawing them into a novel culture."

Touring across the globe as BTS does, the group naturally gets to "immerse" themselves "firsthand in and enjoy the character of each city and the people there," j-hope said. In a similar way, the rep explained, "THE CITY" aims to make each concert even more engaging by "reflecting the local color of the city" where BTS is performing, "all while consistently tying the campaign back to the message behind their album, 'ARIRANG.'" "THE CITY SEOUL," for instance, was designed with the Korean capital's "blend of historic landmarks and everyday spaces in mind so that fans could experience a unique kind of festival as they moved about the city," while "THE CITY BUSAN" worked to "capture the emotional weight of the group's homecoming, coinciding as it did on June 13 with their BTS FESTA anniversary event, plus the group's first concert in a good four years."

"THE CITY LAS VEGAS," held earlier this year in May, demonstrated the sheer strength and status of the BTS name, while also proving how much "THE CITY" itself had grown. The rep described the reaction on the ground -locals and tourists stopping in their tracks, saying, "Is this all for BTS? That's amazing"-and highlighted the sheer scale of the digital Marquee Takeover across the Strip, a key commercial district, and downtown, and the Red Illumination that bathed the entire city in red. "THE CITY" marked the first time a musical artist has pulled off a citywide event on the same scale as the Super Bowl or Formula 1. "The daejong bell, the central symbol in the video we made specifically for Sphere, was inspired by the track 'No.

29' off 'ARIRANG," the rep explained, referring to the major Vegas landmark that's also the world's largest spherical venue. "We wanted to convey the exact moment our sound rang out from the heart of Las Vegas with that sense of reverberation. Then there's the cheongsachorong lantern, which ties back to the Sungnyemun media facade from 'THE CITY SEOUL," they went on, referring back to the digital display on the capital's Namdaemun Gate. "We wanted to tell a story where the journey of the tour connects each city, lighting them one by one." The end result is that "THE CITY" moves in perfect harmony with the "ARIRANG" tour every step of the way.

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The Idol Walk - members walk around the stadium with dancers waving flags.

The back-to-back performances of "Body to Body" and "IDOL" bring all of these ideas together succinctly. RM talked on Weverse LIVE about how he drew inspiration from the band Koreana's song "Hand in Hand," the official theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and shaped that into what became the concept for "Body to Body." The tour director explained that "the stage direction for 'Body to Body' and 'IDOL' similarly drew on the traditional ganggangsullae dance performed during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Games alongside the athletes' entrance" for the Parade of Nations. "The 50 backup dancers come from a variety of different backgrounds. We had them circle the entire stadium together with the boys, just like at the 1988 Seoul Olympics when people from all over the world came together to do ganggangsullae. What we wanted to show was the beauty of Korea that BTS has in them, and what 'ARIRANG' really means."

And so, when concertgoers around the world pack into a massive stadium and sing along in Korean to the "Arirang" fragment woven into "Body to Body," it becomes a symbol of unity. This tour gives BTS and their audiences an opportunity to get closer to each other's cultures and come together as one, with music acting as the bridge-like at the Stanford Stadium concert on May 19, during the US leg, when the crowd flew South Korean flags together as the folk song played. Jin pointed to "traditional Alpine yodeling" as an example of a singing style that's become known worldwide, and shared how happy he is to be "able to introduce Korean folk music to fans everywhere and have them sing along" with the group. "When I'm up onstage and see the crowd all singing along to the 'Arirang' part in 'Body to Body,' it feels like a scene from a movie," he said. "It's something I never could've even imagined, and seeing it become real feels like watching the climax of that movie. I think we were able to introduce our fans to 'Arirang' in a way that felt approachable thanks to approaching it through music."

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

A wide angle view of the stadium full of fans and fireworks

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

BEHIND THE SCENES

A single hooligan carrying a smoke flare comes charging in. The intro to "Hooligan" kicks in, and flames consume the traditional Korean paper projected onscreen. As more hooligans join in and take over the stage, a thick red smog spreads until it engulfs the crowd. Cutting through the chaos, the BTS members take their places on the central stage, and the concert's opening song, "Hooligan," begins. "We wanted to break away from the K-pop concert formula BTS has built on for over a decade and show the next step," the director explained-"what BTS '2.0' looks like." The opening, they said, was designed to feel like "an entrance with a desire to flip the script all over again, now that they're finally back, in a scene full of raw energy and intensity like never before." The overall structure was also meant to break away from the usual K-pop concert mold with an opening that shines light on the artist's aura in an entirely novel way.

Another way the concert helps convey the ambition behind BTS 2.0 is with the 360-degree stage. j-hope noted that trying to do something even fresher was never going to be easy, "since BTS has already put on so many shows," and that the goal "wasn't to find the perfect solution but to work hard to get a little closer to it." He added that performing in a stadium meant "accounting for weather, and every part of the show required close attention to things like changing the direction" they were facing on the central stage "during the performance, so there were plenty of twists and turns" along the way. But there was something to be gained from the whole process. "At first, the whole thing was scary to me, and it wasn't easy to adjust," he explained, "but I kept picturing the stadium with BTS there and filled with ARMY. Now I'm really confident that this tour's a big step forward for the group."

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The director explained that, because the album was shaped by "the group's personal concerns about and pressure around living up to expectations after a four-year hiatus," it was only natural for the first act to "be paired with BTS with the idea of han." It's also why, during the song "Run BTS," when j-hope raps the lines, "Jimin, V, worked hard / Namjoonie, Hope, worked hard / Yoongi hyung, Jjin, worked hard / Jung Kook and everyone so thanks," the camera shows each of the BTS members' faces in turn, as if paying respect to them and bringing them some solace for everything they went through. The same section of the concert features "SWIM," a song of hope in a relentlessly repetitious life, and the weariful "Merry Go Round." Just as the folk song "Arirang" likens life's ups and downs to climbing up and over a hill, the first act of the tour turns its focus to a fully fleshed-out reflection of the complex questions the members of BTS grapple with both as part of a group and as individuals.

Following an intermission, the second act reflects the director's intent to capture "Koreans' sense of heung, where they just let loose and have fun." The "FYA" and "FIRE (FYA mash up)" performances see the group moving full tilt all over the stage, creating an atmosphere where anyone can jump in and lose themselves in the moment, while back-to-back performances of "Body to Body" and "IDOL," staged with immediately recognizable symbols of Korea, become a highlight of the concert by "ramping up the heung to its fullest." The final act puts the theme of love front and center. The director explained that this section was designed by "taking 'Arirang' and the question 'What is your love song?' and putting them together" to "bring the love and bond between ARMY and BTS to its zenith." There was also an additional goal of "making a portion strictly for the fans about how much the group loves them." According to the director, it's long been on "the group's bucket list" to have a segment where they perform a different catalog track at each show to infuse each night with its own special memories. After wrapping up the setlist with "Into the Sun," the group walks off from the main stage, passes through the audience, and makes their exit to bring the show to a close-right back into ARMY's embrace, bringing all the han and heung, the sadness and the gladness, along with them.

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

TOUR SETLIST

ACT 1
BTS (한)

Hooligan Aliens Run BTS
they don't know bout us
Like Animals FAKE LOVE SWIM
Merry Go Round

ACT 2
KOREA (흥)

2.0 NORMAL Not Today MIC Drop FYA
Burning Up (FIRE) (FYA mash up)
Body to Body IDOL

ACT 3
ARIRANG (사랑)

Come Over Butter Dynamite
RANDOM
Please Into the Sun

SETLIST

"We thought hard about the connection between the Korean folk song 'Arirang' and BTS's new album 'ARIRANG,'" the tour director explained, pointing out as well how "the folk song's sorrowful sound is paired with an upbeat rhythm" and that the show aims to capture "the resilience and warmth of the Korean spirit, found in the harmonious cycle of finding heung in han," or finding joy even where there's sorrow. BTS's latest album explores that same duality that's a fact of life. On Weverse LIVE, for instance, RM talked about the track "NORMAL," pointing out that despite the hopeful-sounding melody, the words are weighted with sadness. "This is a sad song," he explained, but "there's a part of me that hopes everyone will sing it happily" at concerts. Similarly, the director explained how the concert is structured around a thematic progression of han, heung, and love, corresponding to three acts titled BTS, KOREA, and ARIRANG. One of the key considerations for the concert, they said, was inheriting the core emotional aspects of the traditional song while "putting a new spin on it with BTS's 'ARIRANG.'"

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

East Rutherford Foxborough Baltimore Arlington Toronto Chicago Los Angeles

Melbourne Sydney Hong Kong Bulacan

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Goyang Tokyo

Tampa El Paso Mexico City Stanford Las Vegas

Busan Madrid Brussels London Munich Paris

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Weverse Magazine magazine.weverse.io/article/view...

A look at aspects of the Arirang Tour

BTS has been on their long-awaited "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" since April. The massive stadium tour marks the first set of performances with all seven of the boys since they went away, and the start of their new chapter, BTS 2.0. With the European leg of the tour currently underway, we've put together this "ARIRANG" tour report covering the creative direction and process that went into bringing the shows to life, a behind-the-scenes look at "THE CITY," and some words right from the group themselves. Let's dive into what all the fuss is about-and as they sing in the opening to "Body to Body," "I need the whole stadium to jump!"

TOUR DATES

The "ARIRANG" tour kicked off on April 9 at Goyang Stadium in Korea and has since taken BTS to stadiums across North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. 88 shows spanning 34 cities have been announced, making it the largest tour ever put on by a K-pop artist. The Mexico shows this past May marked their first solo concert there since July 2015-marking a return after roughly 10 years and 10 months-and were met with overwhelming excitement from local fans. Some 50,000 people packed the Zócalo, where the reunited group greeted the crowd, with around 35,000 fans gathering outside the stadium on the second and third nights. In October, the boys will visit Colombia, Peru, and Argentina as a complete group for the first time. The tour springs from BTS's desire to reconnect with ARMY after fans had waited out the pandemic and the group's military service. "Ultimately, I think the most meaningful thing is the fact that we're finally back together again" with ARMY, RM said regarding the push behind the "ARIRANG" tour. Asked how it felt to set off on a year-long world tour as a full group again, Jimin talked about how "there's times when we're onstage and I'm watching the rest of the group dance, listening to them sing, and it just makes me happy. Those are the moments it really hits me that we're doing this all together," he said. "And because they know me, and really know the group, better than anyone, I feel more grounded and relaxed than ever before."

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Weverse Jin weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

Jin complains as Jungkook and V perform the "photobomb" move

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

BTS J-Hope weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

J-Hope: it's been a while since I've been to Paris. Will get some sleep first

Wearing a bright red LV jacket, J-Hope rests against his hand with his eyes closed. Nap time.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Weverse Jin weverse.io/bts/fanpost/...

Post by ARMY to Weverse showing Jin performing while his shirt flies up to show his belly.

Jin's response:
Was there something like this?
I'll be careful about my clothes.
It's a cute belly

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I said a lot of things.
I've been making a lot of noise.
What's the pitch, what's the rock
I don't know if it's reached you right now
I think I'll be the one who keeps sending and throwing Thirteen years ago, and in the future.
If there are people who listen to it.

Let's make memories together.
I'm so happy that I can eat it every year.
It's nice to still be able to yell at someone.
I see myself again and again through you.
Do you want to do that, too?
Thank you for being with us on this precious anniversary.
Thank you again.

Today is Saturday the 13th
a perfect day.
No matter what it means, on the side of my chest.
We're going to continue to make special memories and commemorate each other

I look forward to your kind cooperation

I love you.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Weverse RM weverse.io/bts/artist/3...

남준
06. 13. 06:26
Hello
It's been a while since I wrote a letter I love the phrase "who saves who." I'm sorry to hear that from time to time I think I'm looking back on whether I've been saved by you guys.

It's simpler and more simple than before.
Or I'm trying to live boldly.
There were fewer moments when I fell in love with it.
Still, the sad thing about the world is No matter how many happy days there are, I don't think there's anything we can do about it.

I think it's because I'm so happy

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

[NOTICE] BTS "Come Over"

Release
Jun 8, 08:00

Hello.
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.

We are pleased to announce the release of BTS's "Come Over."

To celebrate the 13th anniversary of BTS's debut, the track "Come Over" will be released during the “2026 FESTA.” This track was created with profound care and sincerity, and we look forward to your warm interest and support.

"Come Over" is a song that captures the sincere emotions of the artists as they prepare to reunite with fans after a long hiatus. It conveys the honest confession of a heart that, in every moment of feeling lost, inevitably seeks "you,” and asks whether, after wandering and finally knocking on your door, it will be still accepted as it is.

The track is defined by a powerful beat reminiscent of a stadium anthem, rhythmic claps, and distorted guitar sounds, all combining to create a grand, majestic atmosphere.

Thank you.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Weverse BTS Festa 2026 Come Over weverse.io/bts/notice/3...

BTS standing in a tree lined, grassy yard. Reflected in a round mirror. "Come Over" written across the image as an invitation to ARMY

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

V and Suga show off the tile they created for the temple after losing at foot volleyball.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Weverse BTS Festa 2026 weverse.io/bts/media/1-...

No clear choreo happening in the practice room. Unable to sit still, Jimin does jazz hands.

Jungkook continues his reign of silly pics, this time targeting RM.

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Jungkook is proud to catch a funny close up of Jin.

Jimin lifts up Jin from behind. We could all use a Jimin hug like this.

000

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Weverse BTS Festa 2026 weverse.io/bts/media/1-...

Jimin and Jungkook waving from inside the 2.0 elevator.

RM , Suga, and J-Hope at Gwanghwamun

100

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The members gather in a couch.

Snuggling ensues as Jungkook and V can't help but blanket themselves across Jin and RM's laps.

Weverse @weverse.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Weverse BTS Festa 2026 weverse.io/bts/media/3-...

The angle of this picture has you looking up at them, which makes all sense because who else would we look up to?
And yet they don't look like they're looking down at us.