The city of Goyang in Gyeonggi Province has secured the first stage of BIGBANG's full-group world tour. As the return performance for the group marking its 20th debut anniversary, the event is expected to draw tens of thousands of domestic and international fans and inject vitality into the local economy.
Goyang said Friday that the first concert of BIGBANG's new world tour, hosted by YG Entertainment, will be held at the main stadium of Goyang Stadium from Aug. 21 to 23.
The stage marks the starting point of a world tour announcing the full-group return of BIGBANG. The city explained that its top-tier performance infrastructure and administrative capabilities proven through operating large-scale concerts drew the artists' choice.
The key is the ripple effect on the local economy. As fans from around the world who have been waiting for BIGBANG's full-group stage gather, the city expects tens of thousands of multinational visitors to come to Goyang over the three days. The large influx of crowds is expected to lead to the revitalization of nearby lodging and dining businesses as well as major commercial districts.
The economic effects of large K-pop concerts have already been confirmed several times. When tens of thousands of people flock to a single performance, nearby hotels record full occupancy, and food and beverage, transportation, and tourism spending increase in tandem.
The "BTS World Tour Arirang in Goyang" concert, held over three days on April 9 and April 11-12 at Goyang Stadium, drew a crowd of 132,000 spectators.
The city will activate an integrated administrative support system for a successful event. It will preemptively establish a joint safety management system with related agencies such as police and fire authorities and the organizer, focusing on preventing crowd accidents.
The city will also prepare measures tailored to the extreme heat, given the midsummer timing. It plans to consult with the organizer to devise prevention and support measures so that spectators can enjoy the performance without heat-related illnesses.
Transportation measures will also be pursued. To disperse crowds expected to flock to Daehwa Station on subway Line 3 on concert days, the city will significantly expand the operation of circular buses connecting GTX-A Kintex Station and Goyang Stadium beyond the level of previous large-scale concerts.
"We are pleased to present the first stage of the full-group world tour of BIGBANG, which has written K-pop history, in Goyang," a Goyang city official said. "We will carefully review and support all areas, including transportation, safety, and heat wave preparedness."
BIGBANG, which debuted in 2006, is a global group that has dominated domestic and international music markets and has influenced popular culture as a whole, including performances and fashion.
