Memories of Wembley, 1015 days of waiting..It's BTS' time [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

1. A new song in 1015 days

It was 10 to 15 days ago. June 9, 2023. The 10th anniversary single "TAKE TWO" was the last full song by BTS (BTS, RM Jin Jimin j-hope sugar v Jungkook). For ARMY (BTS fandom), the wait may have felt shorter. If you're a fan who supports certain members more than the team, the solo song would have relieved some of the disappointment of the gap.

At the end of this song, all the members left the stage for a while to fulfill their military duties. From Jin's enlistment on December 13, 2022 to Suga's call-up on June 25, 2025. There were a total of 926 days of 'military hiatus'. After 268 days of preparation for the comeback, the entire new song was finally released on the 20th.

2. "Floating". Gwanghwamun

The Gwanghwamun area gradually began to be crowded with crowds about a week before the performance. BTS-related phrases and members were constantly sent out on the high-rise electronic board, and the stairs near the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts were engraved with patterns symbolizing BTS and the album, creating an unusual feeling. Security has been further strengthened against the threat of terrorism. Fans also visited the site early on and took a long line looking around, and as it is an area with a large floating population, the area was noticeably more crowded. The Seoul Metropolitan Government raised the atmosphere by preparing various devices to promote BTS in major attractions such as Gwanghwamun as well as Namsan Mountain and Saebit Dongdoong Island. It is a de facto national event that is broadcast live on the global streaming service Netflix.

3. "Arirang" is rock?

BTS's fifth full-length album "ARIRANG" is an album that captures the team's identity and deep feelings of love, and contains a total of 14 songs. It adds meaning to the work that melts the current BTS intact.

As fans have spotted that some overseas record distributors have classified "Arirang" as a rock/pop genre, there is growing expectation among fans that a rock-style song that BTS has not tried may appear. All of the members participated in writing the lyrics for the album, and Big Hit producer Peedock, EDM new big name Diplo, and Grammy winner One Republic member Ryan Tether joined.

"Arirang is the craziest album of all time and will shock the world," said Diplo, who worked on five tracks, including "Body to Body," "FYA," "One More Night," "Like Animals," and "Into the Sun." "I've been working with such a great group for 30 years, and I'm very lucky that they believe in me and make great music. BTS is really active and creative. I can't believe it," he praised.

"It contains various genres," Suga said of "Arirang," adding, "It will be quite different from the BTS albums you've heard so far." "In this album, you will see a more mature BTS," he added. RM also expressed confidence, saying, "Arirang is really an album with everything."

4. "Seongji". Wembley

Speaking dry and worn out, BTS has numerous records as the first and best artist in K-pop history. The world tour record is also very unique in the K-pop scene. The first stadium tour artist, the most world tour performances, and so on. Among them, New York City Field, LA SoFi Stadium, and Wembley Stadium in London, England, are the places that had a strong impact.

Wembley Stadium-1923 opened. London Olympic Main Stadium, 1948. England national football team home stadium. A total of 90,000 seats. The Cathedral of Football, certified by "King of Football" Pele. And Live Aid in 1985. Where Michael Jackson, Madonna, Queen, U2, Oasis went.

BTS entered the stage called the "Sacred Land" in 2019. The 60,000 ARMY gathered here created a spectacular sight by chanting "Kim Nam-jun, Kim Seok-jin, Min Yoon-ki, Jung Ho-seok, Park Ji-min, Kim Tae-hyung, Jeon Jung-kook, BTS!" with accurate pronunciation.

6. Memories of BTS and Son Heungmin in 2019

"BTS, Son Heungmin, let's go!"

The reason why the reporter could never forget London in 2019, when he headed to the scene, was not simply because of BTS's pride as a "BTS possessor" felt in Wembley and its roar.

The date and time matched perfectly. The BTS Wembley performance began at 7:30 p.m. local time on June 1, 2019. And on the same day, 9 p.m. The match between Tottenham and Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final began at Estadio Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain's capital. And 'Legend' Son Heung-min started the game.

The moment when I watched the performances of these "K-Legends" at the same time in both European hearts remained an unforgettable memory for a long time.

7. Hotshot Debut Appointment

BTS's first Billboard "Hot Shot Debut" (a word meaning it hits the top of the charts upon the release of an album or sound source) was made up of its third full-length album "LOVE YOURSELF 轉 "Tear" in 2018. At that time, they achieved the grand feat of being the first Korean singer to top the Billboard 200 chart with the album.

At the time, some evaluated it as a "technical great success" based on strong fandom firepower, but with this opportunity, BTS accelerated its global "ARMY" expansion. Those who solidified their position as world wide artists naturally succeeded in succession, raising expectations for their next album and new song.

If the album "Arirang" and the title song "SWIM" succeed in "Hot Shot Debut," BTS will add its 14th and 15th records.

8. Living Legend, No Crisis

BTS, who established himself as a "21st Century Beatles" and living legend, rose to stardom relatively early on. He dominated the domestic music industry with his third mini-album, "Hwayang Yeonhwa," grew into an idol following Big Bang and EXO, and later became a global star. Furthermore, the K-pop scene has been powerful enough to define the past 10 years as the 'BTS era'.

In the process, he re-signed his contract with his agency Big Hit Music twice, easily overcoming the challenges faced by idol groups such as "Seven Years of Magic." The crisis has not been entirely without it. Rumors of a romantic relationship and some controversy were raised, but it was not enough to deal a fatal blow to the activity. Rather, the concern at the present point seems to be about how to accept 'after the peak' and draw the next.

March 21, 2026. Let's put aside our worries for a while and welcome the return of the seven members to Gwanghwamun Square and enjoy it together.

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*This content was translated by AI.