The free concert by K-pop sensation BTS in Busan, Korea, was viewed by upwards of 49 million people on Saturday.
The free-of-charge “BTS ‘Yet to Come’ in Busan” concert was held in support of Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo and represented an attempt to introduce the city and Korean culture to global audience.
After a change of venue, the physical component was held at the city’s Asiad Main Stadium and attracted some 50,000 in-person guests. An additional 10,000 people in the city watched a live retransmission at the Busan Port, and a further 2,000 gathered in Haeundae, the tourist area that recently played host to the Busan International Film Festival.
The bigger numbers came online and on broadcast TV.
online livestreaming through Weverse, the fan platform operated by the band’s management group Hybe Entertainment, claimed approximately 49 million views. Local TV broadcast in Korea on JTBC claimed a high 3.3% rating, suggesting at least another million TV viewers.
The concert began with “Mic Drop” and continued with “Run BTS,” running to 19 songs in total. For the unit performances, Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook performed “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” and “Butterfly” while RM, Suga and j-hope staged “Ugh!” and “BTS Cypher PT.3 : Killer.” The seven-man act continued the show with hit songs including “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Burning Up (Fire),” “Idol,” and “Spring Day.”
“The setlist comprised songs that best represent the band and anyone—beyond ARMY—can easily sing along,” said Hybe in a statement.
The concert included symbolic elements that represent Busan and Korean culture. “BTS performed ‘Ma City’ showcasing graphic images of Busan’s beautiful landmarks and scenery. The ‘Idol’ stage caught the eyes of the global audience with Korean traditional visuals and performances such as Bukcheong saja noreum (a Korean traditional game that involves dancing with lion masks),” Hybe explained.
