BTS' Arirang sells 3.98M copies, starts 82‑date tour
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- BTS will launch an 82‑date world tour with a free Seoul concert expected to draw over 250,000 fans and be live‑streamed on Netflix to 190+ countries.
- Arirang sold 3.98 million copies on its first day, according to Big Hit Music.
- HYBE’s operating profit fell by almost 37.5 % during the group’s four‑year hiatus, prompting a surge in its share price ahead of the album.
- Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, wrote to the South Korean government requesting additional BTS shows in Mexico.
- Netflix will broadcast the Seoul concert live to more than 190 nations, extending the tour’s global reach.
- Big Hit Music highlighted the album’s nod to Korea’s folk anthem “Arirang,” featuring motifs on “Body To Body” and a promotional video linking BTS to the 1896 Howard University recording.
Why it matters: Fans gain a long‑awaited comeback and a massive live experience, while HYBE’s stock rebounds after a 37.5 % profit dip, positioning the group’s $1‑plus‑billion tour as a potential catalyst for K‑pop’s global market recovery and signaling renewed investor confidence in Korean entertainment.
