SEOUL - South Korean K-pop megastars BTS will kick off their world tour on Thursday, riding the momentum of a chart-topping comeback album and a landmark performance in the heart of Seoul.
The seven-member group -- widely regarded as the world's biggest boy band -- took to the stage together for the first time last month following a years-long hiatus prompted by mandatory military service, after releasing their latest studio album "ARIRANG".
The performance, staged on the doorstep of the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, drew more than 100,000 fans to central Seoul, the group's label said, while its Netflix livestream attracted an estimated 18.4 million viewers worldwide, according to the streaming giant.
Spanning 85 shows in 34 cities worldwide, the highly anticipated tour, kicking off in BTS leader RM's hometown Goyang, is set to be a major money-spinner for BTS, potentially outdoing Taylor Swift's recent Eras Tour, according to analysts.
Their latest album "ARIRANG" is billed as reflecting the maturing boy band's Korean identity. It is named after the traditional Korean folk song about longing and separation, often dubbed South Korea's unofficial national anthem.
Ahead of the tour, the group has moved beyond themes of adolescent pain and internal conflict, entering "a realm of looking more deeply" into themselves, Kim Jeong-seob, the author of "The universe of BTS", told AFP.
BTS -- short for Bulletproof Boy Scouts in Korean -- have already championed UNICEF campaigns, the Black Lives Matter movement and efforts to combat anti-Asian racism.
Describing the tour as the start of a "new chapter", Kim said current global issues -- such as wars and ethnic and religious conflicts -- could be reflected in their work, conveyed in more indirect ways.
Goyang, about 16 kilometres northwest of Seoul, has already turned into a purple-lit celebration zone ahead of the concert, with landmarks such as Ilsan Lake Park lit up nightly in tribute to BTS and their global fanbase, known as ARMY.
The shows will be held at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 11 and 12, with about 40,000 attendees per night -- around 120,000 in total.
"ARMYs, there's talk of rain on Thursday, the day of the concert, and now that I'm here at the venue, it feels quite cold!" BTS member Jimin said on Tuesday on their superfan platform, ahead of the concert.
"To all the ARMYs coming to watch, please make sure to dress warmly!!"