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.
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 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.”
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.
I am so freaking blown away by this 🤯
[Weverse Magazine] #방탄소년단 ‘ARIRANG’ 월드 투어 리포트
BTS 2.0, 방탄소년단의 ‘K-’를 무대로 옮기다
#BTS’s “ARIRANG” world tour report
BTS 2.0 brings the group’s “K-” to the stage
▶️KOR: https://t.co/fqvItcS3m0
▶️ENG: https://t.co/54RdxyKRBq
▶️JPN: https://t.co/fLAIDW6ojz
Jihyo of TWICE praises BTS and her seniors for "paving the way" for South Korean artists in a new interview:
"Jihyo credits social media and groups like her seniors and BTS, for "paving the way" for South Korean artists to become better known. She shares, "We're just following in their footsteps, and I'm grateful for what they've done for us."
[NEWS] TWICE’s Jihyo said in a recent interview that #BTS PAVED THE WAY for South Korean artists to become better known worldwide, adding that she’s grateful for everything they’ve done!
“Jihyo credits..groups like her seniors and BTS, for “paving the way” for South Korean artists to become better known. She shares, “We’re just following in their footsteps, and I’m grateful for what they’ve done for us.”
🐱: i got here a day earlier than the other members and went to a Metallica concert. Turns out it was their 45th year? Since we're only in our 13th year, that means we still have 32 years ahead of us. You'll keep watching us until then, right?
😭😭😭😭😭
#BTS_ARIRANG World Tour - Surprise Songs + Gift Songs! 💜
🇬🇧 UK, London
Day 1: Life Goes On & Dionysus
Day 2: Save Me & Young Forever [NEW]
🇧🇪 Belgium, Brussels
Day 1: Tomorrow & Boy with Luv
Day 2: ON & For Youth
🇪🇸 Spain, Madrid
Day 1: Airplane Pt.2 & Outro: Wings
Day 2: Mikrokosmos & Best of Me
🇰🇷 South Korea, Busan
Day 1: PALDOGANGSAN & MA CITY + One More Night
Day 2: Dimple & DDAENG + Magic Shop & One More Night
🇺🇸 USA, Las Vegas
Day 1 : Permission To Dance & Go Go
Day 2 : Black Swan & Spine Breaker
Day 3 : Anpanman & Attack on Bangtan Day 4 : Boyz with Fun & Danger
🇺🇸 USA, Stanford
Day 1: N.O & Anpanman
Day 2: Dope & Blood Sweat & Tears
Day 3: I Need U & No More Dream
🇲🇽 Mexico, Mexico City
Day 1: Boy in Luv & So What
Day 2: We are BulletProof Pt.2 & Just One Day
Day 3: Airplane Pt.2 & Spring Day
🇺🇸 USA, El Paso
Day 1: ON & OUTRO: WINGS
Day 2: DIONYSUS & BEST OF ME
🇺🇸 USA, Tampa
Day 1: Permission To Dance & Magic Shop
Day 2: Boy with Luv & Pied Piper
Day 3: Life Goes On & Baepsae / Silver Spoon
🇯🇵 Japan,Tokyo
Day 1: Save Me & Crystal Snow
Day 2: Dope & For You
🇰🇷 South Korea, Goyang
Day 1: Mikrokosmos & I Need U
Day 2: Take Two & DNA
Day 3: Spring Day & Run
#BTS_WORLDTOUR_ARIRANG
#BTS_WORLDTOUR_ARIRANG_LONDON