"My Heart Is Burning"... BTS Shares Their Thoughts Ahead of Busan Concert

6 PM at Busan Asiad Main Stadium: 'Yet To Come in Busan'
Setlist Composed of BTS's Hit Songs "Hope Everyone Enjoys"

The group 'BTS' shared their thoughts through their agency BigHit Music ahead of the concert 'Yet to Come in Busan' on the 15th, held to support the bid for the '2030 Busan World Expo'. Photo by BigHit Music

[Busan=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "It's been a while since our last concert, so my heart is burning. We've prepared songs everyone knows, so I hope you enjoy it."

The group 'Bangtan Sonyeondan' (BTS) shared their thoughts through their agency Big Hit Music ahead of the 'Yet to Come in Busan' concert on the 15th, held to support the bid for the '2030 Busan World Expo.'

BTS will hold 'Yet to Come in Busan' at 6 p.m. at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. This concert, featuring all members, is their first in about six months since 'BTS Permission to Dance On Stage ? Las Vegas' held in Las Vegas, USA, in April.

It is also their first domestic concert in seven months since 'BTS Permission to Dance On Stage ? Seoul' at the Jamsil Sports Complex Main Stadium in Seoul last March. This is the first time since October 2019 that a concert in Korea will be held with a fully seated audience after COVID-19.

This concert was organized to support Busan's bid for the 2030 World Expo and will be free of charge. The setlist will be composed of BTS's representative songs, creating a stage where people worldwide can unite and enjoy together.

The concert attracted attention from the preparation stage. After controversy over the venue, the Busan Asiad Main Stadium was finally confirmed. The agency stated in a press release at the time, "We judged that focusing attention on the purpose of the concert, which is to support the 2030 Busan World Expo bid, and not diluting its intent was most important," adding, "While protecting the concert's purpose, we prioritized accessibility and convenience for the audience and changed the venue to create a more comfortable and smooth viewing environment."

The issue of concert costs also came under scrutiny. It was revealed that the Busan city government and the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee, which initially hosted the event, only provided administrative support as sponsors without budget support, leading to criticism that BTS might have borne not only the free performance but also the concert expenses.

In response, the agency stated, "HYBE and BTS have focused on valuable outcomes rather than costs when participating in national events," and "HYBE and BTS take pride in contributing to the country." The concert at Busan Asiad Main Stadium is estimated to cost around 7 billion KRW (plus alpha). HYBE explained that it plans to cover these costs through corporate sponsorships, online streaming advertisements, and ancillary businesses.

On the 15th, fans flocked to the Busan Asiad Main Stadium for BTS's solo concert "Yet To Come in Busan," held to support the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo. Photo by Yonhap News

Despite the controversy, BTS, who have focused solely on stage preparation, expressed heartfelt thoughts toward their fans, drawing attention.

RM said, "We worked hard for this one special performance. There will be fun stages and songs we haven't sung in a while. I hope everyone sings along joyfully and jumps together."

Jin said, "It's been a while since our last concert, so my heart is burning. I will do my best on stage."

Suga said, "I'm excited to hold a concert in Korea where cheering is possible after a long time. I'm thrilled at the thought of hearing your cheers," adding, "Since it's a festival-style free performance, I hope the audience lets go of everything and enjoys it."

J-Hope pointed out that the highlight of this concert is delivering the energy of all seven members intact, saying, "It's a concert we've prepared hard for. Although there is pressure and tension to do well, with the mindset of 'Let's enjoy it with many people,' we plan to show all our energy as it is, so I would appreciate it if you enjoy it," emphasizing, "We've prepared many different sides, so please look forward to it."

Jimin said, "I'm excited and nervous, but since we've prepared hard, I want to show the performance soon. I ask the audience to enjoy it freely with us."

V vowed, "We will pour everything into creating a great performance for the audience joining us from all over the world."

Jungkook said, "It's been a while since our last performance, so I'm nervous and excited. I want to make a performance without regrets, and I hope everyone watching the concert leaves with good energy. There will be new performances, so you can look forward to it," sharing his thoughts.

The concert will be broadcast live not only at the Asiad Main Stadium but also on JTBC, Japan's TBS Channel 1, and streamed for free on online platforms such as Weverse, Zepeto, and Naver Now. Through 'LIVE PLAY,' it can be viewed on large screens at the outdoor parking lot of Busan International Passenger Terminal and a special stage in Haeundae.

In addition to the 2030 Busan World Expo bid concert, HYBE is also conducting 'THE CITY' project throughout Busan. The event includes the exhibition '2022 BTS EXHIBITION: Proof,' which captures BTS's nine-year history, a store where official concert merchandise designed and produced to preserve concert memories longer can be purchased, and themed packages at five hotels offering various benefits along with accommodation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.