BTS has turned its return to Latin America into a major concert success, attracting approximately 853,000 fans across 14 sold-out shows in five cities during the latest leg of its ‘ARIRANG’ world tour.
According to The Korea Times, the seven-member group wrapped up the South American leg with three performances at Estadio do Morumbi in São Paulo, Brazil, last week.
The tour began on 2 October in Bogotá, Colombia, before moving through Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The run marked several milestones for the group. BTS performed as a full band in Colombia and Argentina for the first time, while its visit to Peru was its first since debuting in 2013.
The group returned to Chile after nine years and Brazil after seven.
The members said they had particularly looked forward to meeting fans in the region, where opportunities to perform are relatively rare.
They described the response as overwhelming and said they hoped to return soon, adding that the tour had created some of their happiest memories.
The concerts also generated significant economic activity in the host cities, with audiences travelling across regions and countries to attend.
In Argentina, 96 per cent of concertgoers at the La Plata shows came from outside the city, according to a local survey.
More than 48,000 visitors stayed overnight, spending an average of three and a half nights there. Their spending on accommodation, food, transport and leisure, excluding concert tickets, was estimated at 53 billion Argentine pesos.
Bogotá also recorded a 46.6 per cent year-on-year increase in flight bookings during the concert period. In Lima, demand for ride-hailing services surged, reaching as much as 48 times the usual level after a show.
The ‘ARIRANG’ tour takes its name from BTS’ fifth studio album, named after Korea’s best-known traditional folk song.
Its setlist brought together newer material and established hits, including ‘Fake Love’, ‘Idol’, ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’. Members also addressed audiences in local languages.
BTS will now continue the world tour in Asia and Australia, beginning with concerts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on 19 November.
Further stops include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Melbourne and Sydney.
