BTS Picks Busan for Historic World Tour Stop — Is the City Finally Ready for a Global K-Pop Stage?

Busan is buzzing with excitement after news broke that BTS will perform in the city as part of their first full-group world tour in four years, a move that is already reigniting debate over whether South Korea’s second-largest city has a venue capable of hosting global-scale K-pop events. According to BigHit Music, BTS will kick off their new world tour in April at Goyang Sports Complex before traveling across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia, with a total of 79 concerts planned in 34 cities. Among those destinations, Busan stands out as the only non-metropolitan area in South Korea included in the tour, drawing particular attention from fans and local officials alike.

BTS is scheduled to perform in Busan on June 12 and 13, with June 13 holding special significance as the group’s debut anniversary. Expectations are high that the members will mark the meaningful date in Busan, the hometown of members Jimin and Jungkook. Given how rare it is for top-tier K-pop acts to include non-capital regions in global tour schedules, the announcement has been seen as a major boost to Busan’s cultural status and international visibility.

As soon as the Busan concerts were confirmed, fans began actively sharing travel information, potential venues, ticketing strategies, and accommodation tips online. With BTS returning as a complete group after a long hiatus, fierce competition for tickets is widely anticipated. However, while the tour schedule lists Busan as a stop, the exact venue has not yet been officially announced, further fueling speculation. The most likely candidate is Busan Asiad Main Stadium, which can accommodate approximately 53,000 people and previously hosted BTS’s “Yet To Come in Busan” concert in October 2022. A Busan city official confirmed that BTS’s side had inquired about stadium availability in the second half of last year.

The renewed spotlight on Busan has also brought long-standing concerns back to the surface. Despite its growing reputation as a cultural and tourism hub, the city lacks a dedicated large-scale performance venue capable of consistently hosting world-class concerts. Online reactions have been mixed, with many expressing gratitude that BTS chose Busan, while others voiced disappointment over the absence of a purpose-built K-pop arena.

Against this backdrop, attention has turned to Busan North Port. On January 14, Kim Sung-bum, acting minister of oceans and fisheries, instructed the Busan Port Authority to come up with a utilization plan for the North Port landmark site within the year. The proposed plan includes the possibility of a K-content performance venue, adding momentum to calls for a mega-scale concert hall that could host global artists and large audiences. Observers note that BTS’s upcoming Busan concerts could serve as a catalyst in pushing forward discussions on developing such infrastructure.

Meanwhile, BTS is set to release their fifth full-length studio album on March 20, marking their first complete-group comeback in three years and nine months. With a new album, a massive world tour, and a symbolic return to Busan, the group’s next chapter is not only capturing fans’ attention worldwide but also reshaping conversations about regional cultural infrastructure in South Korea.