'BTS The City' festival draws 200,000 fans to Busan

BTS lit up not only the hearts of fans but also the city of Busan as its large-scale festival, "BTS The City Arirang — Busan," wrapped up after attracting more than 200,000 total visitors over a two-week period, the band's label, HYBE, said.

Citywide events transformed key locations across Busan into BTS-themed destinations throughout June, in tandem with the septet's Busan concerts on June 12 and 13. “The City” project is a recurring series of promotional events that HYBE organizes for its artists to extend concert experiences into host cities through a range of events and attractions.

A media art wall and dedicated event space at Busan Station were among the exhibits that welcomed visitors. More than 26,000 people visited the welcome center from June 5 to 15, according to the Busan Metropolitan Government.

The "Love Song Lounge," which previously drew large crowds in Seoul with busking performances and interactive activities, was recreated at Haeundae Beach. A giant sand sculpture bearing the message "Keep Swimming" — inspired by "Swim," the lead track from BTS's latest fifth full-length album, "Arirang" — was built at the beach for fans to enjoy.

“Army Madang,” an immersive fan experience zone, attracted about 28,000 visitors between June 10 and 14, according to HYBE.

All 700 seats for a yacht experience, where fans could ride vessels wrapped in images related to the Busan event, sold out, HYBE said.

Drone light shows were also staged at Gwangalli Beach, showcasing key messages from tracks on “Arirang.”

Major Busan landmarks, including Gwangan Bridge, Busan Harbor Bridge and the Nurimaru APEC House, were also illuminated in red, the signature color of BTS's album “Arirang."

BY KIM JI-YE [[email protected]]