Busan turns purple for BTS and ARMY — in pictures

A two-week-long BTS-themed festival in Busan, complete with drone shows and interactive programs for fans, kicked off on the first day of the septet's two-day "Arirang" world tour stop in the coastal city.

JIN EUN-SOO JIN EUN-SOO

Published June 13, 2026 - 12:14 p.m. Modified June 13, 2026 - 1:16 p.m.

BTS fans pose for a photo with their light sticks ahead of the boy band's "Arirang" world tour concert at the Asiad Main Stadium in Busan on June 12.

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Busan’s land and sky were awash in purple on Friday, the first day of BTS’s two-day “Arirang” world tour stop in the coastal city, as well as the start of a two-week-long citywide BTS-themed festival.

Both the second show on Saturday and the festival coincide with the septet’s 13th anniversary since its debut.

Some 1,000 drones lit up the night sky of Busan's Gwangalli Beach on June 12 to celebrate BTS's arrival in the coastal city for "Arirang" world tour.

Some 1,000 drones lit up the night sky above Busan’s Gwangalli Beach, forming the words “HELLO ARMY,” referring to the collective name of BTS fans, and other symbolic elements from the band’s latest “Arirang” album as songs — including “Swim,” “Normal” and “Hooligan” — played in the background. The highlight of the show was when the drones formed the faces of the seven members in the night sky.

An airship with a message for BTS's Jungkook flies over a sand sculpture that reads "Keep Swimming" at Haeundae Beach in Busan on June 12, the first day of BTS's two-day Busan stops for its "Arirang" world tour.

BTS fans pose for a photo holding a special BTS edition of the Korea JoongAng Daily at the Asiad Main Stadium in Busan ahead of the boy band's "Arirang" world tour concert on June 12.

The Busan edition of the festival, titled “BTS the City Arirang,” started at the welcome center set up at Busan Station, with photo zones and BTS music videos playing on the large light-emitting diode, or LED, screen outside.

Haeundae Beach was transformed into a theme park, where fans could take pictures in front of a sand sculpture spelling out “Keep Swimming” or visit a listening zone dubbed “Love Song Lounge” and enjoy interactive programs while listening to the group’s songs.

“ARMY Madang,” set up in front of The Bay 101, a cultural facility near Haeundae Beach, offered fans the opportunity to customize T-shirts and light sticks.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [[email protected]]