BTS will hold a tour titled “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN GOYANG” over three days—April 9, 11, and 12—at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. During the fan club pre-sale held on the 22nd, all seats for all three nights were completely sold out, achieving a “total sell-out” and once again proving the group’s overwhelming global appeal.
On the 23rd, BTS’s agency officially confirmed the news, stating: “‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN GOYANG’ will be held at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium on April 9th, 11th, and 12th. The fan club pre-sale on the 22nd sold out all three days.”
Reactions from overseas markets were just as intense. The shows in Tampa and Stanford (U.S.) sold out immediately upon opening ticket sales, prompting the organizers to add one additional date in each city. Notably, BTS became the second artist after Coldplay to hold a standalone solo concert at Stanford Stadium—an unprecedented record for a K-pop artist.
While the world has been marveling at BTS’s mαѕѕive sell-out power even after more than four years—three of which the group was on hiatus due to mandatory military service—some кσяєαn media outlets raised concerns over a so-called “high ticket price controversy.” YTN wrote, in reference to BTS’s Goyang concert tickets, that this issue—“which has repeatedly appeared at concerts of top-tier idols—had surfaced once again".
кσяєαn media cited that, based on the highest-priced tickets, BTS’s Seoul concert tickets in 2018 were priced at 110,000 KRW, whereas for the upcoming Goyang concert, the price has risen to 264,000 KRW. This price includes a “Sound Check” package, which allows attendees to watch the rehearsal before the official concert begins.
They further noted that “complaints have surfaced over the large number of seats with obstructed views, despite little difference in ticket prices. This even led to jokes that “everything except BTS is a restricted-view seat.” As it is difficult to check restricted-view seating arrangements at a glance, some fans have created and shared their own graphics to help others.” The report also mentioned that surging accommodation prices in кσяєα during the concert period have become an additional burden for fans.
However, after this report was released, it faced strong backlash from the majority of fans. Contrary to K-media’s narrative, most ARMYs declared that “It’s worth every penny.” They pointed out that even within YTN’s article, a fan who planned to attend the BTS Goyang concert said: “I was determined to attend no matter what, so I’m incredibly happy that I managed to get a concert ticket. I can’t wait for spring to come so I can finally see the full lineup perform together on stage.”
Meanwhile, when compared with ticket prices for other major K-pop idol concerts held in кσяєα in 2025, BTS’s ticket prices are on par with industry standards. K-pop concert tickets in кσяєα generally range from approximately 120,000 to 250,000 KRW (around USD 90–180) for regular seats, and can exceed 500,000 KRW (around USD 400) for premium VIP packages. For instance, BLACKPINK’s 2025 Goyang concert tickets ranged from 132,000 KRW for the lowest tier to 275,000 KRW for the highest tier (excluding soundcheck).
The Guardian, when discussing BTS concerts, cited economic experts who αѕѕessed that while BTS’s fanbase (ARMY) shares similarities with Taylor Swift’s fans (Swifties) in terms of loyalty, age range, and spending intent, ARMYs demonstrate an even higher level of enthusiasm and commitment, being willing to spend large sums because BTS is perceived as deserving of it.
Experts further analyzed that, due to the prolonged wait caused by the ¢σνι∂-19 pandemic and the members’ military service, fans’ desire to attend this tour has become even more intense.
The Guardian also highlighted stories of fans who booked flights and hotels even before concert tickets went on sale. Leslie Huynh (28), who works in film equipment rentals in New York, said: "When BTS announces a tour, you just have to book the hotel and flight first. It’s become a meme that you’ll find a ticket somehow, whether it’s a resale or not."
Huynh plans to attend 22 shows across 11 cities. She also plans to go on a "pilgrimage" to restaurants and landmarks visited by BTS, explaining, "I consider BTS a very expensive hobby, but it’s because they are the ones I choose to spend my money on."
Kayley Merulla (25), a content strategist in New Jersey, also plans to attend six shows in three U.S. cities. "BTS helped me through the hardest times of my life. They are a source of unconditional happiness," she said. "I can’t imagine where I’d be without them. Traveling elsewhere for a BTS concert is an obvious choice for me."
According to a 2024 study by Bread Financial, fans traveling for concerts spend approximately 3.4 times the ticket price on travel and tourism within the local economy. Therefore, claiming that fans are complaining about expensive ticket prices is clearly a one-sided interpretation of the situation by some кσяєαn media outlets.
Ultimately, millions of people around the world rushed to ticketing websites in hopes of securing a seat to witness BTS’s reunion after approximately four years of military service. The fact that tickets sold out within just a few hours stands as the clearest proof of fans’ “satisfaction” with ticket prices—rather than the “high-price controversy” suggested by some кσяєαn media.
