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BTS
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BTS

BTS
BTS
BTS are the biggest names in K-pop - and they continue to go from strength to strength. After becoming the first K-pop band to top the US album charts in 2018, the seven-member boy band went on to conquer the world, propelled by the support of their devoted Army fan club.
Industry
Entertainment, K-Pop
Job Title
K-Pop band
Local Arsenal fans at the friendly between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur held at Kai Tak Stadium in July 2025. The prestige of marketing at major sporting events has skyrocketed in recent years. Photos: Elson Li
The Future of Marketing in Asia

Sports marketing ditches billboards for culture

From NBA x K-pop collaborations to interactive experiences, brands are moving past simple sponsorships to embed themselves in sports culture.

Singapore

Chinese, Japanese fans fuel surge in Singapore hotel rates for BTS shows

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Celebrity children

Meet Soul Rasheed, the son of musician Anderson .Paak

Fashion

Dare to bare: shirtless suiting has taken over the red carpet

A-listers are choosing to shun their shirts on the red carpet, while Gucci, Dior, Balmain and more are presenting their takes on the runway – will bare chests be the wedding trend this summer?

Shirtless suiting is in, and Balmain’s spring/summer 2026 collection shows the look at its best, with tailored jackets cut low at the chest. Photo: Handout
Kai Tak Sports Park

Letters | BTS ticket chaos: Hong Kong must get serious on bots and scalpers

Readers discuss the scourge of today’s concert culture, building climate resilience, and the challenge of looking for a job in the age of AI.

Food and Drinks

Oreo and BTS launch purple cookies in new K-pop collaboration

Oreo spent two years developing the BTS cookies, which have centres that taste like hotteok, a popular Korean street food pancake.

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Malaysia

‘Scalpers making everything worse’: the fight to grab BTS tickets in Malaysia

‘You almost feel like you are preparing for an exam or going into battle,’ a K-pop fan says.

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A fan poses with cardboard cut-outs of BTS members outside a concert venue in Mexico City on May 7. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

Desperate search for Busan rooms: ‘obscenely high’ prices anger BTS fans

‘I wanted to explore the city, but I’m now forced to find accommodation elsewhere,’ a K-pop fan says.

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Hong Kong economy

K-pop stars BTS to hold 3 concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in 2027

Boy band will perform on March 4, 6 and 7 as part of their ‘Arirang’ world tour, with tickets to sell for up to HK$3,299 each.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

Scientists warn Fifa that World Cup games at risk of searing heat

One in four games could take place in very hot conditions; meanwhile, Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline first-ever half-time show in final.

The final, which will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has a chance of being played under extreme heat. Photo: AP
South Korea

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

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A BTS fan takes a photo of the band’s poster outside the stadium before the “Arirang” World Tour concert in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9. Photo: AP
South Korea

‘Anyone from the North?’: US comedian Seth Herzog apologises over BTS joke

Herzog’s remarks sparked backlash from fans ahead of the K-pop band’s American TV comeback.

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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

K-pop stars BTS are back, with a new album and a Netflix documentary

BTS are back after a nearly four-year gap. Netflix documentary BTS: The Return explores the making of their latest album, Arirang.

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South Korea

‘A shame’: why Jin was left off official credits for BTS’ latest album

The K-pop band cited scheduling conflicts, saying the star ‘kept touring’, but fans aren’t buying the explanation.

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BTS member Jin in a scene from the 2026 Netflix documentary BTS: The Return. Photo: AP
Asia travel

Visiting South Korea? 10 BTS pilgrimage spots every Army should visit

Explore iconic landmarks throughout the K-pop band’s history, from the current Hybe headquarters to their trainee-era haunts.

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Members of K-pop boy band BTS at Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, Gangwon province, South Korea. The coastal backdrop was used in imagery tied to the group’s global hit single “Butter”. Photo: courtesy of BigHit Music
Seoul

Video | Low BTS concert turnout causes slide in agency shares

The heavily secured Gwanghwamun Square performance drew 104,000 fans – less than half the turnout police expected.

South Korea

BTS’ South Korea comeback crowd disappoints, triggering stock sell-off

The reunion concert drew 104,000 fans – less than half the 260,000 police had expected.

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South Korea

They’re back! K-pop’s BTS play first gig together in nearly 4 years

There were 22,000 free tickets, with thousands of other fans flooding Seoul to watch on giant screens, plus a Netflix live stream.

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BTS perform in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Seoul

Video | Seoul prepares for BTS comeback at historic square

South Korean authorities prepare for BTS members to perform in first concert together in three years.

SCMP Highlights

Jean-Claude Van Damme talks art; a chemist’s soy empire: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a mother’s 22kg weight loss to a Taiwanese chemist’s soy empire in Australia, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

South Korea

Are you ready, Army? Free BTS concert to mark a K-pop comeback like no other

BTS’ return to the stage is set to redefine global music, with a free comeback performance, album drop and a massive world tour to come.

A concept photo from “Butter”, a song by BTS. The K-pop group is staging a free concert in Seoul, dropping a new studio album and preparing for a massive world tour. Photo: Instagram/bts.bighitofficial
South Korea

BTS’ concert puts ‘K-safety’ to the test as 260,000 fans to throng Seoul

Over 8,000 officials will be deployed at Saturday’s event in Seoul amid heightened scrutiny over crowd safety.

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Stage construction is under way at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul ahead of BTS’ comeback concert. Photo: Korea Times
Asia travel

K-tourism 2.0: Gen Z tourists prefer singing, dancing immersive holidays

K-pop and K-culture are driving a rise in tourism in South Korea, and many Gen Z visitors are opting for immersive experiences.

Timepieces

5 watch moments in February 2026: the Baftas, Jungkook’s new role and more

Breitling partners with Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton collaborates with De Bethune, and Swiss jump-hour watch brand Niton is revived.

China-South Korea relations

K-pop’s big freeze: are cracks in China’s cultural blockade a thaw?

A decade-long geopolitical chill has kept South Korean entertainers largely locked out of the Chinese market, but fans find ways to connect.

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Global K-pop phenomenon BTS has just unveiled plans for their biggest tour yet, but it will not include any stops in mainland China. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong

2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Looking back at 2016 is viral online, but what was hot back then? We look at food, travel, health and pop culture trends from a decade ago.

People play Pokemon Go in Hong Kong on July 25, 2016, the day it was released in the city. The online game was one of the hottest trends in the city 10 years ago. Photo: Nora Tam
Singapore

Set-jetting to Singapore: how K-pop is driving new tourism push

Ticket sales for K-pop events in Singapore increased by about 250 per cent between 2022 and 2024.

South Korea

BTS’ comeback concert sparks Dynamite price hikes in South Korea’s Busan

The K-pop group’s show in Busan is months away but already room prices have soared beyond the 1 million mark.

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