Illinois joins 'BTS Day' celebrations for the band's Chicago concert

Illinois became the latest region to join city governments welcoming BTS’s “Arirang” world tour. The Prairie State proclaimed Thursday and Friday — the day of the band’s concert in Chicago — as “BTS Day in Illinois,” according to BigHit Music on Monday.

“BTS has transcended international borders and utilizes their platform to champion social causes, including mental health awareness, self-love, and global philanthropy,” JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, said in a proclamation on Aug. 14. “The core messaging of BTS heavily aligns with the civic values of Illinois, inspiring millions of individuals […] to engage in grassroots community service and match global charitable giving.”

This isn’t the first time local governments have welcomed BTS’s concerts with official government recognition. Toronto designated last weekend as “BTS Weekend” and renamed part of a street “BTS Boulevard” on Friday.

In April, El Paso also proclaimed the band’s performance dates “El Paso BTS Weekend” and gave the band the Estimado Amigo award, given to those recognized for bolstering community pride and cultural impact.

The following month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed the band into the National Palace in Mexico City and presented the band with a commemorative plaque.

The septet is scheduled to perform at Soldier Field in the Windy City for the first time in approximately seven years since its last performance at the venue in 2019 during its world tour, when it became the first Korean act to perform there.

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]