BTS is holding a free concert in Busan. Here’s why

BTS is set to rock the stage with a free live performance in October.

But that's not all. The free concert will also have a livestream on Weverse, ZEPTETO, and Naver Now for ARMYs the world over to enjoy the set, as well as an in-person event called Live Play where fans can watch the concert in real time on a large screen. 

So why is BTS performing as a group in Busan come October?

The short answer: It’s part of the city’s all-out bid to host the World Expo 2030.

The 2030 World Expo is a global event that strives to encourage knowledge sharing, and the advancement of the global economy, culture, science, and technology while enabling exhibitors to showcase their accomplishments and strengthen intercultural ties.

Think of the World Expo as the Olympic games for economic and cultural entities. It's a big deal — so it only makes sense for South Korea's biggest cultural force to help in its bid to host the World Expo 2030.

Last year, South Korea submitted their letter of candidature to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan, the country’s second-largest city and greatest port city.

With the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future," Busan promises to concentrate on advancing technologies while addressing global challenges such as climate change, digital divide, and inequality among and within nations.

This effort is receiving a lot of support, with over 100 billion Korean Won (about P4 billion) from both public and private sources.

To help secure its bid to host the World Expo, South Korea appointed global idols BTS as honorary ambassadors of the event last July — hence the BTS free concert on Oct. 15 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.

Busan is competing against the four other cities, which are also vying to host the 2030 World Expo: Moscow, Russia; Odesa, Ukraine; Rome, Italy; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The decision for the 2030 World Expo host country will be announced in late 2023.

If World Expo 2030 opens in Busan, South Korea will only be the seventh country to have staged the world’s three mega events (World Expo, Olympics, and World Cup), a feat first achieved by France in 1938, when they finally hosted the World Cup. — LA, GMA News