Global icons BTS are officially back on the road—and they didn’t ease into it.
The group kicked off their long-awaited “Arirang World Tour” on April 9 at Goyang Stadium in South Korea, delivering a nearly two-dozen-song set in the middle of torrential rain. If anything, the weather only added to the spectacle, turning the opening night into a cinematic, full-force return for one of the biggest acts in the world.
This marks BTS’ first official tour since their “Permission to Dance on Stage” run in 2021–2022, following a multi-year hiatus as members fulfilled their mandatory military service. The anticipation was palpable—and the group met it head-on.
From the jump, the setlist balanced new material from their Arirang album with fan-favorite hits. Tracks like “Fake Love,” “Dynamite,” and “Mic Drop” were met with roaring crowd reactions, while newer songs signaled a refreshed, post-hiatus era.
One of the night’s most talked-about moments came when RM addressed concerns about his recent injury. The rapper, who suffered a torn ligament during rehearsals, performed portions of the show seated on a throne during a “meet the audience” segment.
“It’s been three weeks [since the injury] so the doctor said I can perform. It’s not that big of a deal. We just wanted to give it our all today,” he said to the crowd, via BBC.
Despite the setback, RM remained present throughout the performance, reinforcing the group’s commitment to showing up fully—even under less-than-ideal conditions.
The setlist itself was a reminder of BTS’ range and staying power, moving fluidly between high-energy anthems and more emotional, reflective moments. Songs like “Mikrokosmos” and “I Need U” brought a softer contrast to the explosive staging of tracks like “Fire” and “Idol.”
The group is set to perform two additional nights at Goyang Stadium before taking the tour global. If opening night is any indication, the “Arirang World Tour” is shaping up to be less of a comeback—and more of a full-scale cultural reset.
See the full Arirang World Tour set list…
1. Hooligan
2. Aliens
3. Run BTS
4. They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us
5. Like Animals
6. Fake Love
7. Swim
8. Merry Go Round
9. 2.0
10. Normal
11. Not Today
12. Mic Drop
13. FYA
14. Fire
15. Body to Body
16. Idol
17. Come Over
18. Butter
19. Dynamite
20. Mikrokosmos
21. I Need U
22. Please
23. Into the Sun
