BTS Makes Busan the ARIRANG Era’s Center of Gravity
Monday, June 15, 2026 · 7 min
BTS’ ARIRANG world tour centers on Busan, with sold-out Asiad Stadium shows framed as a homecoming and FESTA milestone, while Spotify lines up a June 19 “Merry Go Round” video premiere to keep the comeback cycle moving.
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Show notes
BTS’ ARIRANG world tour centers on Busan, with sold-out Asiad Stadium shows framed as a homecoming and FESTA milestone, while Spotify lines up a June 19 “Merry Go Round” video premiere to keep the comeback cycle moving.
In this episode
- BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour - UPI.com — UPI
BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour - UPI.com June 12, 2026 / 5:44 AM Fans stand in front of a photo of BTS member J-Hope near Busan Asiad Main Stadium, where the K-pop band will kick off the Busan leg of their "Arirang" world tour on Friday. Photo by Yonhap K-pop supergroup BTS will begin the Busan leg of its "Arirang" world tour Friday, returning to the southern South Korean…
- Spotify to Exclusively Premiere BTS' Merry Go Round Music Video | Outlook Respawn — Outlook Respawn
Spotify to Exclusively Premiere BTS' Merry Go Round Music Video | Outlook Respawn Advertisement Follow Outlook Respawn Spotify announces an exclusive premiere for BTS's upcoming 'Merry Go Round' music video as part of FESTA 2026. # BTS’ Merry Go Round Music Video Set for Spotify Exclusive Premiere ## After the Spotify SWIMSIDE event, the platform is again collaborating with BTS to visually…
- Step Back — If BTS really is opening the 'Arirang' era with Busan shows, what does choosing Busan as the launch point add beyond hometown symbolism — musically, politically, and in how the group frames its post-military identity?
Background sources
- Busan: More than tour stop for BTS - The Korea Times — Co
- (LEAD) BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour | Yonhap News Agency — Shim Sun-ah
- BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour - UPI.com — Shim Sun-ah, Yonhap News Agency
- With 'Arirang,' BTS returns to a K-pop moment of its own making | KPBS Public Media — KPBS Public Media
- How BTS honoured the concept of arirang on their new album | CBC Arts — Amelia Eqbal · CBC Arts · Posted: Mar 24, 2026 4:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
- BTS Busan concerts could put Korea’s second city on the K-pop tour map — SHIN HA-NEE SHIN HA-NEE
- Boundary Stones | How BTS Tapped Into Forgotten Washington, D.C. History for the Arirang Album | PBS — PBS