The Gwangandaegyo Bridge in Busan is covered in purple lights ahead of the Oct. 15 BTS concert to promote the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. (Busan Metropolitan City)
By Lee Kyoung Mi
Video = Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's official YouTube channel
Busan has colored the night in dazzling purple lights ahead of hosting the Oct. 15 BTS concert to promote the city's bid to land the 2030 World Expo.
Busan Metropolitan City on Oct. 11 announced its hosting of the event "Borahae Busan" until Oct. 17, with the city's main facilities and landmarks at night to feature purple lights.
Purple, or bora in Korean, is the representative color of the K-pop group and both BTS and its fans say "Borahae (I purple you") instead of "Saranghae (I love you)."
The facilities to be lit in purple are Busan City Hall, Namhangdaegyo Bridge, Busan Diamond Tower, Gwangandaegyo Bridge, Busan Cinema Center and Nurimaru APEC House. The lights will also be on cable cars around Songdo Beach.
The city said the event seeks to welcome members of Army, the global community of BTS fans, and domestic and foreign tourists expected to visit Busan on the occasion of the group's "Yet to Come in Busan" concert, which is slated for Oct. 15 at Asiad Main Stadium.
BTS is also supporting Korea's bid to host next year's Asian Cup of soccer.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Oct. 12 said it posted a video of the group supporting the bid on the government's leading social media accounts like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Korea last hosted the tournament 63 years ago.
In the video, BTS member J-Hope said, "When Korea hosted the 2002 World Cup, millions of people cheered on the streets and surprised the entire world," adding, "If Korea hosts the Asian Cup, we can relive that special moment next year in June and July."
Fellow member V said, "I imagine seeing soccer fans who love the sport visit Korea and enjoy Korean culture and Korean culture aficionados coming to the country in time for the special soccer festival called the Asian Cup."
Korea is competing to host the tournament with Qatar and Indonesia. The host country will be announced on Oct. 17.
km137426@korea.kr
