Culture

Jun 03, 2019

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K-pop super group BTS performed from June 1-2 at Wembley Stadium in London. (Big Hit Entertainment)

K-pop super group BTS performed from June 1-2 at Wembley Stadium in London. (Big Hit Entertainment)


By Kim Eun-young and Lee Jihae

The Korean super group Bangtan Boys (BTS) has made history as the first Asian act to headline Wembley Stadium in London.

The boy band held two solo concerts at the stadium from June 1-2 that each lasted two hours and 40 minutes, and were joined by 120,000 spectators over the two performances.

An iconic venue for British pop culture and sports, the stadium is where the 1948 Summer Olympics were held and has served for decades as a major stage for the world's top singers such as the Beatles, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Metallica and Beyoncé. In 1985, Wembley also hosted the "Live Aid" concert that featured a memorable performance by the group Queen. 

Both CNN (left) and the BBC (right) cover BTS’ performances from June 1-2 at Wembley Stadium in London.

Both CNN (left) and the BBC (right) covered BTS’ performances from June 1-2 at Wembley Stadium in London.


The concerts were also covered by major foreign media, with the BBC playing up the band's mega success

"BTS have made history by becoming the first South Korean group to headline Wembley Stadium," it said, adding, "Never has the phrase 'Wembley, make some noise,' been more redundant."

"Unlike previous Wembley headliners, they're not quite household names yet but their fanbase, dubbed the 'Army,' is unusually devoted, highly mobilized, and growing daily." 

CNN on June 3 posted as its top story on its international edition the article "How a boy band from South Korea became the biggest in the world."

BTS has had three albums topping the Billboard 200 chart in less than a year, the Atlanta-based news network said, and the group's success has surpassed that of the Beatles given that the Korean band has cracked the American market despite the language barrier.

BTS on June 2 finishes its second of two solo concerts at Wembley Stadium in London. From left are V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope. (Big Hit Entertainment)

BTS on June 2 finished the second of two solo concerts at Wembley Stadium in London. From left are V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope. (Big Hit Entertainment)


BTS continues its world tour with performances in Paris from June 7-8 and Tokyo from July 6-7.

eykim86@korea.kr

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