BTS World Tour Arirang IN Busan: A Comprehensive Cultural and Tourism Experience
Busan is gearing up to host the ‘BTS World Tour Arirang IN Busan’ concert on June 12 and 13, transforming the city into a festival venue for the entire month of June. The Busan Metropolitan Government is planning to offer extensive tourism content to BTS fans and tourists, showcasing the charm of Busan. The city aims to turn the concert into a comprehensive cultural and tourism experience by linking K-POP content with Busan’s infrastructure. A four-stage strategy focusing on hospitality, experience, gastronomy, and imprinting has been devised to allow visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s allure from the moment they arrive until after the concert ends.
To create a memorable first impression, welcome programs will be concentrated at major gateways and urban hubs in Busan. Gimhae Airport and Busan Station Eurasia Platform will host welcome events for foreigners, offering tourism guidance, luggage storage services, and K-POP experience programs. The city will also set up a welcome photo zone at the airport and operate a welcome center at the train station, providing a range of services and events to enhance visitors' experience. Additionally, a vibrant atmosphere of hospitality will be fostered at Busan Station Plaza through various performances and promotional activities, including a ‘Busan Pop-Up Store’ showcasing local products.
Immersive programs will be expanded to allow BTS fans and tourists to engage in various activities across Busan. A large-scale lighting show called the ‘Drone Lighting Show’ will take place at Gwangalli Beach, featuring 1,000 drones and landscape lighting at the Gwangan Bridge. ‘The Red Moment Busan’ event at Songsanghyeon Plaza will offer music performances, photo zones, and experience booths. A city tour bus theme route named ‘BTS THE CITY’ will operate daily, along with thematic tourism courses tailored to fans’ preferences, encouraging stay-type tourism in Busan.
To enhance the concert’s impact on local commercial revitalization, programs combining Busan’s unique flavors and night tourism content will be introduced. The ‘Port Village Busan 2026’ at Busan Port Pier 1 will feature a gourmet lounge with local food and beverage teams, a lifestyle market, and experience spaces. The ‘Gourmet Selection’ promotion will collaborate with renowned restaurants in Busan, while the ‘Star Sea Busan Night Market’ at Hwamyeong Ecological Park Lotus Complex will offer traditional liquor pop-up stores and themed night markets. By promoting Busan’s gastronomy and night tourism, the city aims to connect visitors with unique culinary experiences.
A Busan Tourism Promotion Center will be set up around the Busan Asiad Main Stadium to introduce major tourist resources and local content, expanding tourists’ movement routes across the city. Welcome kits containing Busan tourism souvenirs, a Visit Busan Pass, discount coupons, and tourism vouchers will be distributed to tourists at various locations, enhancing their experience in Busan. Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-deok expressed the city’s commitment to creating a top-tier tourism environment and providing seamless convenience for visitors, ensuring that the emotional impact of the concert extends to diverse experiences and gastronomy throughout Busan, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.