BTS Day 2 Goyang (Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC/HYBE)

BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE

Note: This review is based on Day 2 of BTS’s Goyang concert.

Day 1 of BTS’s anticipated ARIRANG concert in Goyang was rained out, preventing the global superstars from showcasing their planned performance filled with fire, fireworks, and confetti. Though the rain did not deter the members – RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – from performing at their best, it caused technical difficulties, including smoke that didn’t dissipate during their introduction song, leaving fans missing their initial choreographed performance.

Fortunately, with clear skies in sight, Day 2 was an opportunity for the group to show exactly everything they wanted to their fans in the sold-out concert, the Weverse livestream, and in theaters worldwide. The energy at Goyang Stadium was magnetic as fans from all over the world came to watch the septet reunite after four years since their last shared performance at their Yet To Come Busan concert.

This time around, BTS really wanted to engage with their fans, known as ARMY, and created a 360-degree stage with extended stages at each corner to let the members be even closer to their fans. BIGHIT MUSIC / HYBE did not hold back on its budget for the show’s production, featuring moving stages, technicolor lighting, drone cameras, fire effects, fire canons, stunning graphics, detailed video concept reels (VCRs), confetti blasts, and fireworks.

The stage design features a modernized Jeongja-style pavilion, inspired by the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion of Gyeongbokgung Palace. When looking directly down at the stage – which the drones and top cameras capture – it incorporates the South Korean flag motif “Taegeukgi,” with the central symbol anchoring the stage with the extended runways drawing inspiration from Geongongamri (the four trigrams from the flag). The production staff really incorporated traditional Korean elements throughout the concert.

This concert was also an introduction to BTS 2.0; now that most of the members are in their 30s, they have nothing to prove in terms of their performance or their constant high-energy choreography. Though they did have exciting and difficult moves with “Hooligan” and “2.0,” BTS wanted to create a party atmosphere for the rest of the time, including their older tracks like “Fire,” “FAKE LOVE,” and “IDOL.”

The concert centered on the significance of their latest 5th studio album, ARIRANG, which represents where BTS are in their careers now. The group, seven boys from South Korea, wanted to pay homage to their heritage through its graphics and routines. Prior to the show’s opening performance, images of traditional Korean scripture were displayed on the big screens, featuring traditional Korean music (Gukak) with hanji-inspired graphics.

As the lightsticks, known as ARMY bomb, lit up the stadium, turning red like BTS’s ARIRANG logo. A dancer, completely covered in black dressing from head to toe, runs onto the stage, carrying a torch, completely filling the stage with smoke. More dancers emerge onto the stage, and as the air begins to dissipate, BTS are revealed, causing the entire stadium to roar in excitement. Now clearly visible, the group opens the show with “Hooligan.”

As the group performed, flames shot out safely from the sides and top of the stage, increasing the intensity. The heat from the flames could be felt from the stands, helping keep audiences warm for a split second in the cold weather. Yet their synchronized, complex moves to the upbeat track turned up the heat even more.

The intense performances continued as the stadium turned green to represent “Aliens.” Parts of the stage began to lift, and the members moved around the stage to ensure everyone could see them. Though there was no choreographed routine for the song, the group kept the energy up, bouncing around the stage.

Cheers erupted from the audience when the third song, “Run BTS,” began, with lightsticks flickering teal and white colors. An elderly Korean lady nearby stood up to dance, which is uncommon in Korea, as people typically remain seated to avoid blocking those behind them. It caused a trickle effect as those behind her began to stand up to see and joined in on the dance. The group danced in circles, with Jung Kook grabbing one of the camera drones to sing directly into the camera with V. In the final verse, the members performed the song’s signature choreography, ending on a high note.

Out of breath, BTS drank some water before welcoming the crowd to Day 2 of their concert. Jung Kook commented on the weather, grateful that it wasn’t raining. Jimin says the crowd was louder this time, which made him happy. He had expressed on a Werverse Live after Day 1 that he felt disappointed in how the rain affected their performances.

With the 360-degree stage, SUGA expressed that ARMY can see all sides of them, and something new. The group seemed to sense the criticisms they’ve received for their album, emphasizing that “this whole comeback is different, which is why it gets better the more you understand,” comparing it to fine wine that improves with age.

Over the three days of concerts, RM, Jin, J-Hope, and V asked ARMY to put down their phones and really take in the performances. It was a valid request, as the members kept seeing phones instead of their fans’ faces while performing. It also didn’t help that there were professional cameras, which were not permitted, scattered throughout the audience.

“You can take photos or film occasionally, but this moment will never come back,” says RM. “So I hope you enjoy the moment and share this special time just with each other and just for us.”

As they moved onto their next set with a rotating stage, the dancers carried iPad-like screens, as if they were calling out those holding their phones up towards the members. The group turned away from the screens, as they sang, “they don’t know bout us” and “Like Animals.” At one point, the screens began facing the audience as if capturing them. It may have been a reflection of their earlier words, asking the audience to put their screens away, or it may have been entirely coincidental.

Another familiar song followed, as they performed “Fake Love,” splitting up to go to each corner of the extended stage to perform. Though they were high in energy, something did feel a bit off with several of the members, as they could probably see that many fans ignored their requests to put their phones down.

They then transitioned to more melodic songs, “SWIM” and “Merry-Go-Round,” which featured more production and props as their dancers surrounded them with fabrics and lights to represent the ocean, then an actual merry-go-round for the latter song. It was stunning to watch BTS focus solely on their vocals, as both songs carried such emotional resonance.

The VCR that was shown after features BTS members representing seven elements: the four trigrams – Heaven (RM), Earth (V), Water (Jimin), and Fire (Jung Kook) – and Yin/Shadow (SUGA), Yang/Light (j-hope), and Purity (Jin). All represent the South Korean flag.

They kick the set off with “2.0,” performing the fast-paced dance routine that just felt so effortless and cool. The entire set just exudes charisma, including their transition to “Normal.” The audience began singing along to the “Normal” chorus, as V began conducting his side of the stage to follow his movements.

The group seemed to be having the time of their lives together, as they began telling the audience how much fun they were having. Jimin and V share a cute moment. V, who is a few inches taller than Jimin, faces Jimin, who looks to be the same height at that moment. Jimin jokes, “Why so tall?” The group shares some laughs together before bringing up the phone/recording conversation again, which feels a bit sad to hear this is happening after being told earlier (and even during soundcheck, according to an ARMY who attended it earlier).

V then tells the audience they’re going to kick the next set up a notch, filled with high-impact sights and sounds, performing “Not Today,” “Mic Drop,” and a remix of “FYA” with “Fire.” When I thought the “2.0” set was dynamic, this one felt even more so as it felt like a festival rather than a concert. Despite missing Coachella to attend BTS’s concert, the performance gave off festival energy. As they sang “FYA”/”Fire,” the pyrotechnics blasted throughout the stage. The guys were dancing as if it were a rave at the Burning Man festival. It was so much fun.

It seemed rather sad again that BTS had to ask yet again to put their phones down. RM even said it in English, as the crowd included non-Korean speakers, telling them to put their phones down and saying, “let’s jump.” He really wanted them to pay attention to this next set, so he and Jimin stripped down to sleeveless shirts, causing a frenzy in the stadium. They began performing “Body to Body,” which felt like a New Year’s or Independence Day Celebration, as the members danced throughout the main and extended stages before being surrounded by flags bearing their ARIRANG symbol. As the folk song portion began, images of fans dressed in traditional hanboks appeared on the screen. The crowd began singing the folk song as the group watched and listened to the audience’s voices.

They then hyped the crowd even more by marching on the floor with their dancers and the flags during “IDOL.” RM, who had suffered a recent foot injury, was carried on a throne as they traveled to be closer to their fans in the stands. It is also the idea of royalty in association with “IDOL,” and how, as BTS’s leader, RM would be on the throne. That set was also a reminder of their use of the carts from their PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE tour, when they rode on carts around the stadium floor to be closer to their fans sitting in the stands. The group was back and didn’t forget their roots with their connection to their fans.

As they exited to prep for the encore, the final VCR showed the Yeonriji, or intertwined trees, growing from the seven members, with specks of light from all over the place joining it. The specks are meant to represent ARMY (their light being the ARMY bombs) and their forever bond with BTS.

The boys came out, dressed in their merchandise, walking onto the stage with attitude, as if they owned the place (they do). They began with their hidden track from the deluxe vinyl, “Come Over,” produced by SUGA. Filled with soft pop and synth-heavy sounds, BTS just grooved with their audience, taking in the ARMY bombs swaying with them.

SUGA tells the audience that he wrote the song on the first day he arrived in the U.S. for the songwriting camp last summer. He says, “It might be unfamiliar for you all, but you will know it gradually. Things like that tend to last longer anyway.” Throughout the concert, Jung Kook and others kept calling SUGA by his first name in a fun, loving way: “Yoongi!”

For their next set, RM tells the audience, “This song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for almost 10 consecutive weeks. This is a song that even your neighborhood neighbor’s dog knows.”

V laughs, giving a hint to what the next song is, “This jam is what Jung Kook spreads on his bread.” Jung Kook jokingly looks confused, “Jam? Is it a jam?” Jimin proudly says, “Butter.”

They then performed “Butter” and “Dynamite” as an ode to the era that they left before ARMY.

The songs were No. 1 on all global charts, including in Korea, and brought in more ARMY during that era. The entire segment felt like a dance party for the group, where even the most reserved member, SUGA, was seen smiling and dancing to the song. They continued the neighbor’s dog joke, with j-hope saying he thinks the dog just barked on cue.

The group conversed with each other and the crowd to perform two random songs from their discography. V says, “Is there any other song that you guys want to hear?” They begin to hear suggestions from the audience, “Danger,” “Magic Shop,” “Boy With Luv,” and “No More Dream.” SUGA is shocked at that suggestion, “‘No More Dream’ is a 13 or 14-year-old song!” Jin starts saying more old songs, “Whalien 52,” “Louder Than Bombs,” “Pied Piper,” and “Epiphany.”

The group lets the director behind the soundboard choose the song, and he picks “Take Two,” prompting everyone to scream “Yoongi” because SUGA made the song. The song was released in 2023 during the group’s 10th anniversary festa. RM says it reminded him of his military days. J-Hope says the song was released when he joined the military, and asked ARMY to sing along with them. Jimin also reveals, emotionally, that he survived his military service because of the song.

They sang “Take Two,” and it felt so emotional as they divided to the extended stage. Jin, who appeared on our side of the stage, began leading the ARMY in swaying their arms, following his lead. All the other members moved their arms with the crowd. During SUGA’s rap part, Jung Kook yelled out, “Yoongi!” causing him to break from his rap to laugh. V says, “What? What happened?” SUGA says, “[Jung Kook] said my name!” It was a tender moment for all the members.

For the next BTS Karaoke segment, Jin had his own request, “I have one I want to do. I listened to this song a few days ago. How about ‘DNA’?” The group had fun with the song, but many could not remember the dance choreography. RM and j-hope did the introduction portion, and everyone else did scattered performances. It felt like the group was also reliving these moments with ARMY in real-time. V and j-hope would have their moments doing the choreography, with V and Jimin doing the dance break together. They all returned to the main stage, clasped their hands at one point in the song as part of the routine, and did the final parts together.

They discuss what they would want to do in future concerts. “Boy With Luv” was thrown out there, with SUGA telling the group that he absolutely does not remember that dance choreography. Jimin tells the audience that they will perform all of their songs one day, with SUGA reminding him they have over 200 songs. It was these moments that felt most impactful for fans to see BTS reunite, as if no time had passed.

During the group’s goodbyes, they all expressed thanks, and the audience's high energy was evident, especially with the weather being better than on Day 1. SUGA and Jimin thanks the fans for waiting this whole time.

V says he wants to do something a little different because they have over 80 shows worldwide and didn’t want to say the same thing over and over again. He did reveal he had a sore neck from the Day 1 performance, but it went away as soon as he saw ARMY. He begins to tell ARMY about his day: what he ate and what time he went to bed.

Jin initially gave the audience a quick kiss, but the group goaded him into performing his signature move. With the camera focused on his face, he did the move with a glowing response from ARMY.

RM bowed to the audience, expressing his appreciation for ARMY for waiting and supporting them. After working together for 15 years, they’ve grown from teenagers to adults, and he begins to express that the new songs show how much the group has changed musically, but they themselves have not. He explains, “The important thing is that the seven of us decided to do this together. And our sincere feelings for how much we truly think of you. We will never take this full house for granted, even for a moment, and we will always move forward with a humble heart.”

Jung Kook also bows to the audience, thankful for their support. After that, there seemed to be a disconnect between BTS and the audience, as the members began to explain that they can’t bow again because that represents a funeral, and this is a celebration. It may have made sense to those on the floor, as the chants were towards BTS and could not be heard in the stands.

j-hope says the final goodbye from the group, and ends with an “ending fairy” of him staring into the camera, breathing heavy. This prompts the group to make fun of him, saying that bit was “so 10 years ago.” Jin suggests he should have written something on the palm of his hand. Jimin asks, “Why are you out of breath all of a sudden?”

RM says these are the final two songs, asking the audience to focus again on the performance rather than on a phone. He says, “So if you sing along and enjoy it with us until the end, since this moment can’t return, I'll be grateful if you could fully and purely fill this moment.”

The group ends with “Please” and “Into the Sun.” The songs are very mellow, allowing the group to just be present with ARMY. ARMY did sing along to the chorus and waved goodbye as BTS walked off the stage to confetti blasts and fireworks that surrounded the stadium. It was a powerful spectacle for an impactful, powerful group.

The BTS ARIRANG WORLD TOUR continued to Tokyo from April 17-18, and they then head to a massive 85-show run across 34 cities in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia, with plans to expand even more in 2027.