BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’: K-Pop group’s impact felt beyond music in Bay Area as thousands attend shows at Stanford Stadium

STANFORD, Calif. (KGO) — Tens of thousands of K-pop fans streamed out of Stanford Stadium on Saturday night after the first of three sold-out shows by global sensation BTS, marking a long-awaited return that fans say goes far beyond music.

The group’s devoted fan base, known as the BTS Army, filled the stadium with energy and emotion as the band performed in the Bay Area for the first time in years.

Fans described the experience as deeply meaningful, with some saying the band’s music helped them through difficult times.

“Life is so tough and if there’s one thing that’s me through my darkest days, its BTS,” said fan Tessa Albea. “It’s an utter joy, that feeling.”

The sense of joy was a common theme throughout the night, as more than 150,000 people are expected to attend the three sold-out shows combined.

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“During COVID when everybody was at home BTS really saved us. We’re at home. We’re putting on their music, it made us happy, and honestly, they just bring a lot of joy to us,” another fan said.

The excitement surrounding BTS extends beyond the stadium, reflecting a broader cultural impact. Stanford University Professor of Korean Studies, Dafna Zur said the band has helped drive increased interest in Korean language and culture.

“As opposed to a lot of other foreign languages, that are stagnant or that are losing students. Korean language, Korean history, Korean culture, Korean literature, sociology, there’s just a tremendous interest,” Zur said.

Zur said the group’s rise coincided with the growth of social media, which helped expand their global reach. “It was around that time when things were going viral and really made widely accessible that K-pop also, kind of was able to ride that wave,” she said.

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She also attributes their success to powerful Korean entertainment companies, the group’s talent, communication with fans, and their messaging.

“Fans of groups like BTS really get a sense that they know the members, that they have access to the members, they get to kind of be along for the ride with them, with the good times and their bad times,” Zur said.

With two more shows remaining, the events highlight what many describe as a cultural phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down.