Potentially millions more across the world will tune in to see a Netflix live broadcast.
In a last-minute setback, the group’s agency said Friday that BTS leader RM hurt his ankle in rehearsals and that his “participation in certain performance elements, such as choreography on stage, will be restricted”.
The group was expected to perform their latest album, Arirang, which was released on Friday and is billed as a reflection of the maturing boy band’s Korean identity.
The album sold almost four million copies on its first day, BTS’s record label said. Five million fans pre-saved it on Spotify, the most ever for a K-pop act.
Arirang takes its name from a folk song about longing and separation that is often dubbed South Korea’s unofficial national anthem.
Featuring collaborations with multiple Western artists and producers, the 14 tracks on the album mix rap, heavy beats and experimentation.
“Compared to their earlier work, there’s a wider range of genres, which gives it a more mature and expansive feel,” impressed fan Lee Ji-young, a university professor, told AFP.
“As always, their lyrics are honest, and through a diverse range of sounds, they give a clear sense of who they are and where they stand right now.”
Another fan on Reddit wasn’t so impressed.
“I hope they sing some of their old stuff,” they said.
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