K-pop boy group BTS They reunited Saturday for a concert in Busan in support of South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in the southern port city.
The Free party — titled “BTS After He Came in Busan” — drew an audience of about 52,000 to the stadium, according to Yonhap News Agency.
100,000 people were expected to visit the stadium and other areas, according to Busan Metropolitan City authorities, with some fans watching the event live on big screens set up at several venues around Busan.
The concert came after the seven-member band announced a break in June from group musical activities to pursue solo projects, raising questions about the band’s future.
With BTS’ oldest member Jin, who turns 30 next year, facing mandatory military service in South Korea, the country’s defense minister said in August that BTS may still be able to perform overseas while serving in the military.
Under a 2019 law review, globally recognized K-pop stars were allowed to defer their service until the age of 30. Military service is highly controversial in South Korea where all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 28 must perform their duties as part of efforts to defend against a nuclear-armed North Korea.
“If the seven members of BTS feel the same way and if you believe in us, we will overcome whatever happens to us in the future and perform with you guys and make music. Please trust us,” BTS RM’s leader told fans during the concert, without going into further details.
Four countries – South Korea, Italy, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia – submitted competing bids to organize the World Expo 2030, according to the exhibition’s organizing body, Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The host country for the World Expo 2030 is expected to be elected next year.
In July, BTS was named official ambassadors for the 2030 World Expo in Busan, more than 300 kilometers (190 miles) southeast of the capital, Seoul.
BTS debuted in June 2013 and became a worldwide sensation with their upbeat successes and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people.
Last year, BTS became the first Asian group to win Artist of the Year in American Music Awards. the group he met US President Joe Biden at the White House in May to discuss hate crimes targeting Asians.
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