Busan turned purple on June 13, the 13th anniversary of BTS's debut, as ARMY fans from around the world flocked to the city for the concert. Amid the excitement, Lotte Giants jerseys have unexpectedly become a talking point. As word spread that V's real name is "Kim Tae-hyung," the same as Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung, and that the jersey color is purple, fans have turned their attention to the team's merchandise.
The area around Busan Asiad Main Stadium, where BTS's world tour "ARIRANG" Busan concert was held that day, was packed with fans from early in the morning. Fans who had made it through fierce ticketing competition gathered near the stadium to take commemorative photos and exchange merchandise while waiting for the show to begin.
The concert carried added significance as it coincided with the 13th anniversary of BTS's debut. In particular, overseas fans dressed neatly in hanbok could easily be spotted, in keeping with the concept of the "ARIRANG" album, which captures Korean sentiment.
Following the previous day's show, BTS is set to meet more than 100,000 fans over two days at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. During the previous day's concert, the members handed out gifts including sky-blue parasols and transparent bags to all attendees, and fans used them to shield themselves from the strong sunlight while waiting to enter.
Around the venue, fans wearing official BTS merchandise T-shirts and decorating their bags with key rings and photo cards stood out. Others carried fans bearing the taegeuk symbol or filmed challenge videos for the new song "Hooligan" while wearing traditional costumes from various countries.
◇Busan Becomes a BTS Festival Ground...The "ARIRANG" Effect=Beyond the venue, all of Busan was heated up with BTS festival fervor. A world tour "ARIRANG" photo zone was installed at Busan Station, and the walls of Sports Complex Station near the venue were filled with photos of the members. In particular, fans formed long lines to take commemorative photos in front of pictures of Jimin and Jungkook, members from Busan.
The subway heading to the venue was also packed with overseas fans. The scene inside the trains, filled with a mix of languages from various countries, resembled an international airport.
BTS is in the midst of "ARIRANG," a stadium-level world tour spanning 86 shows across 34 cities worldwide, which began at Goyang Sports Complex in April. The decision to choose Busan as a major concert location also draws attention, in contrast to K-pop groups that typically hold concerts centered on Seoul and the metropolitan area.
Kim Jung-seop, a professor at the Graduate School of Cultural Industry and Arts at Sungshin Women's University, said, "This is an era in which the tourism industry is expected to breathe new life into regional areas, and tourism ultimately requires things to enjoy alongside things to see." He added, "BTS's large-scale concerts will be a good example of fulfilling those needs."
◇"Kim Tae-hyung Plus Purple"...Lotte Giants Jersey's Unexpected Popularity=With this concert as a catalyst, the Lotte Giants, the professional baseball team based in Busan, are also receiving unexpected attention. Recently, the Lotte Giants' "Ditto collaboration jersey" has become a topic of conversation among BTS fans on social media.
The reason is a curious coincidence. The Lotte Giants manager's name is Kim Tae-hyung, and the real name of BTS member V is also Kim Tae-hyung. On top of that, purple — the color symbolizing BTS — overlaps with the purple of the Ditto collaboration jersey, so marking "Kim Tae-hyung" on the back of the jersey makes it look like a BTS fan jersey.
Furthermore, since the Lotte Giants are based in Busan, fans attending the Busan concert say it is fitting to buy as a souvenir.
In fact, photos of people who have bought or worn the jersey have been posted online one after another. Fans responded with comments such as "When I told my friend, they said they were going to buy it right away," "The manager wins too," and "I never even thought about it, but it fits perfectly." Lotte fans also reacted with amusement, calling it "a combination I never imagined."
