[PARIS] BTS Transcends Language in Paris as 92,000 Crowd Joins in 'Arirang' Chorus

BTS drew the largest single-show crowd of its 13-year career on Friday night in Paris. About 92,000 fans packed Stade de France for the group's "BTS World Tour ARIRANG" stop, according to its agency Big Hit Music.

The show started at 7:30 p.m. local time on July 17 at the stadium in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. The next night's show is set to begin at 8 p.m. Fans speculated that the earlier Friday start time was tied to French noise rules and to overnight construction on the local RER B commuter line. According to the Paris transit authority RATP, service on parts of that line between Châtelet-Les Halles, Mitry-Claye and Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 has been suspended from 10:45 p.m. for track repairs, running from the 15th through the 23rd.

The stadium was already crowded roughly four hours before showtime. K-POPIT reporter entered through zone R. Getting into the stadium through zone R alone took about an hour and a half. Under a cloudless sky, fans waited in strong sun with little relief. France sits at a high latitude, so the summer sun stays high in the sky well past 6 p.m. The actual temperature was only around 25 degrees Celsius, but the sunlight was sharp enough to sting exposed skin. Long lines wrapped around the stadium in several directions, and there did not appear to be enough staff to manage them. There were no shaded areas or seats along the lines, and fans stood on hot asphalt while they waited. Some shared parasols brought by a small number of attendees, while others fanned themselves to cope with the heat.

One woman who came from southern France told reporters, "They say the heat wave has passed, but it still feels really hot today. I was here last week for The Weeknd's concert, and it wasn't this crowded or the lines this long. The crowd looked about half this size, so it felt comfortable. I live in France, and I don't think I've ever seen Stade de France this packed."

The fandom culture on the ground looked different from what is common in South Korea. Korean fans tend to carry official merchandise or wear pieces tied to it, but many Paris fans expressed their love for BTS in more personal ways. One local fan, who said she lives about two hours from the stadium, hand-knit a hat that matched one Suga once wore. Fans from across Europe brought handmade BTS souvenirs and outfits they had built themselves, and the effort stood out.

Additionally, when the audience was shown on the media wall during the members' costume changes between performances, they drew significant attention by showcasing unique fashion styles tied to traditional Korean culture, such as draping themselves in the South Korean flag (Taegukgi) or wearing Hanbok.

BTS opened the show with "Hooligan." The members walked out in black leather looks, and everyone except V, Suga and Jimin wore sunglasses, sharpening the mood. After "Aliens" and "Run BTS," the members greeted the crowd.

"Bonjour," Jungkook said in French. "It's our first night in Paris. We're back at Stade de France after seven years." He added in French, "Did you miss me?" V also spoke in French, saying he hoped everyone would go wild together, then switched to English. "I know you've waited a long time for us. Thank you so much, Paris." Jimin followed in French, asking how everyone had been. "It's been a while," he said. "Let's not waste a single moment tonight." J-Hope, RM and the other members shouted "C'est parti" (Let's go) in French to pull cheers from the crowd.

Local fans matched Korean audiences on singalongs, which surprised reporters. On the more lyrical songs like "Like Animals" and "NORMAL," and on hits like "FAKE LOVE" and "MIC Drop," the crowd was loud enough to bury the live vocals. The cheers built into something closer to white noise.

The most striking moment came when the European crowd sang the Korean folk song "Arirang." About 90,000 fans followed the Korean folk song from start to finish, without a single English lyric to lean on. They went well past the four best-known opening lines, singing the full folk passage that closes "Body to Body." Leaving the venue, one fan told reporters with a laugh, "I studied English so I could read the subtitles on BTS content. I should have studied Korean instead."

Near the end of the show, Jungkook told fans, "I came in with high expectations because I'd heard the crowd was huge tonight. It was even more fun than I imagined, and I'm so happy." Switching to French, he added, "I had such a good time with you. Thank you for these precious memories. I won't forget them. I'll really miss you. Let's see each other again soon. I love you." The crowd roared. Jin said, "Tonight was so much fun. Aside from meeting fans right after my military discharge, my first official schedule was carrying the Olympic torch right here. I was so happy to be back with beautiful people like you."

V said, "I prepared some words in French, but I don't think my pronunciation will get the message across. I'll try anyway." He began in French, "Good evening." He continued, "I really love French, but it also feels really hard. I'll do my best. I love croissants, wine, golf." He shook his head as if second-guessing himself, then finished in French, "I love you all so much," and bowed to the crowd.

RM told fans, "I'm so happy to be back. You are like a revolution. You're the best. I love you all." Suga followed, "We played this same venue seven years ago in 2019. Anyone here from that night? It was before the pandemic, and we were with about half of tonight's crowd. They say tonight is about 90,000. This will be the biggest and hottest city on this tour. Thank you so much for enjoying it with us. I love you."

Jimin said in French, "Paris is a magical city," then switched to Korean. "Thank you so much for coming tonight. They say this is the biggest crowd our group has ever performed for. I'll always remember that this many of you are waiting for us in Paris. We have to come back. I love Paris." J-Hope threw finger hearts to the camera before speaking, then said in French, "Did you have a good time? I'm so happy to be back in Paris. I love you." RM added with a smile, "I'm so happy to be back in Paris too. Paris is really hot. You in Paris are the best. It's magic."

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron attended the show. Brigitte Macron is known as a major fan of the group, having personally invited J-Hope to perform at a large charity event she hosted.